1. (v.) To soil or diminish the appearance of, especially 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.

2. (v. i.) To lose luster; to become dull; as, gilding will tarnish in a foul air.

3. (n.) The quality or state of being tarnished; stain; soil; blemish.

4. (n.) 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.

achromatize asperse aspersion attaint badge of infamy bar sinister baton bedaub befoul begrime benasty bend sinister besmear besmirch besmoke besoil bespatter bestain black eye black mark blacken blanch bleach blemish bloodstain blot blotch blow upon blur brand broad arrow call names calumniate censure champain contaminate corrupt dab damage darken daub debase decolor decolorize defame defile degrade denigrate dim dirty disapprove discolor disgrace dishonor disparage disparagement drain drain of color dull embarrass engage in personalities etiolate expose expose to infamy eyesore fade fleck flick flyspeck foul fume gibbet grime hang in effigy harm heap dirt upon hurt impair imputation infect injure macula maculation macule mar mark mark of Cain mess mess up muckrake muddy nasty onus pale patch peroxide pillory pillorying point champain pollute prejudice reflection reprimand reproach revile ruin scorch sear singe slander slubber slur smear smirch smoke smooch smouch smudge smut smutch soil spatter speck speckle splash splatter splotch spoil spot stain stigma stigmatism stigmatization stigmatize sully taint tar throw mud at tone down vilify vitiate wash out whiten