If you say that something tarnishes someone's reputation or image, you mean that it causes people to have a worse opinion of them than they would otherwise have had. The affair could tarnish the reputation of the prime minister + tarnished tar·nished He says he wants to improve the tarnished image of his country
discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically; "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"; "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man
To soil, or change the appearance of, especially by an alternation induced by the air, or by dust, or the like; to diminish, dull, or destroy the luster of; to sully; as, to tarnish a metal; to tarnish gilding; to tarnish the purity of color
A thin film on the surface of a metal, usually due to a slight alteration of the original color; as, the steel tarnish in columbite
A discoloration that can build on silverplate or sterling if left exposed to the air or if brought into contact with certain foods and chemicals Can easily be prevented by everyday use or protective storage and is easily removed by commercial silver polishes
A term used to describe a discolored or stained conductor or shield wire caused by exposure to the atmosphere
make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically; "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"; "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man"
Dulling, staining or discoloration due to formation of thin films of corrosion or oxidation [back] [top]
If a metal tarnishes or if something tarnishes it, it becomes stained and loses its brightness. It never rusts or tarnishes Wear cotton gloves when cleaning silver, because the acid in your skin can tarnish the metal. + tarnished tar·nished its brown surfaces of tarnished brass
Tarnish is a substance which forms of the surface of some metals and which stains them or causes them to lose their brightness. dullness of colour, or loss of brightness
A thin deposit of a dirt which discolors the surface of metal and is easily removed Also a reaction between metals and other chemicals which discolors the surface, particularly silver which reacts with sulfur (sulphur) The silver sulfide (sulphide) can be removed with a proprietary cleaning product and gentle abrasion