What is the meaning of tarnish?

noun

  • Discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation.

verb

  • Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically.
    • usage: "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"; "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man"
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
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APAWordNet. (2010). tarnish. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/tarnish/definitions/1210137
ChicagoWordNet. 2010. "tarnish" http://smartdefine.org/tarnish/definitions/1210137 (accessed September 21, 2026).
HarvardWordNet 2010, tarnish, Smart Define, viewed 21 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/tarnish/definitions/1210137>.
MLAWordNet. "tarnish" 23 October 2010. Web. 21 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/tarnish/definitions/1210137>
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