Definition

1. Noun:

   • A discoloration or loss of brightness on the surface of a metal: This is caused by a chemical reaction, typically oxidation or exposure to sulfur compounds.
   • (Figurative) A stain or blemish on a reputation or image: Used metaphorically to describe damage to someone's good name or honor.

2. Verb (transitive and intransitive):

   • To make or become less bright or discolored: To cause a metal surface to lose its luster, often due to exposure to air or moisture.
   • (Figurative) To diminish or damage the purity, luster, or good quality of something abstract: To sully or taint a reputation, memory, or ideal.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The antique silver had a dark tarnish that needed polishing.
  • The scandal left a permanent tarnish on his political career.

• Verb:

  • Exposure to the humid air will tarnish the copper fittings.
  • She was careful not to do anything that could tarnish the company's brand image.
  • The beautiful brass doorknob had tarnished over the years.

Advanced Usage

• "to tarnish one's image/reputation/honor": A common figurative phrase meaning to damage public perception.

  • The allegations, though false, threatened to tarnish her impeccable reputation.

• "beyond tarnish": Implies something is so pure or respected it cannot be sullied (often used rhetorically).

  • His legacy was considered beyond tarnish.

Variants and Related Words

• Tarnishable (adjective): Capable of being tarnished.

  • Silver is a highly tarnishable metal.

• Tarnished (adjective): Describing something that has lost its luster or been sullied.

  • We cleaned the tarnished candlesticks.
  • He was a hero with a slightly tarnished past.

• Untarnished (adjective): Remaining bright, clean, or unsullied.

  • She maintained an untarnished record of integrity.

Synonyms

• Verb (literal): Discolor, dull, corrode, oxidize.
• Verb (figurative): Sully, stain, blemish, taint, mar, besmirch, defile.
• Noun (figurative): Stain, blot, smirch, blemish.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(Note: "Tarnish" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically conveyed directly or with prepositions like "with" or "by.") - To tarnish with [something]: To stain or sully by association with a negative thing. - His victory was tarnished with accusations of cheating.

Related Idioms

• A tarnished halo: Refers to someone whose saintly or pure image has been damaged.

  • After the controversy, the celebrity's tarnished halo was evident to all.

• To tarnish the gold/gilt: To spoil something that is valuable or beautiful.

  • The bitter argument tarnished the gold of their long friendship.

Noun

1. discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation

Verb

1. 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