Meaning of "tarnish" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD TARNISH

From Old French ternir to make dull, from terne lustreless, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German tarnen to conceal, Old English dierne hidden.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF TARNISH

tarnish  [ˈtɑːnɪʃ]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF TARNISH

Tarnish is a verb and can also act as a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

The verb is the part of the sentence that is conjugated and expresses action and state of being.

See the conjugation of the verb tarnish in English.

WHAT DOES TARNISH MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Tarnish

Tarnish is a thin layer of corrosion that forms over copper, brass, silver, aluminum, and other similar metals as their outermost layer undergoes a chemical reaction. Tarnish does not always result from the sole effects of oxygen in the air. For example, silver needs hydrogen sulfide to tarnish; it does not tarnish with only oxygen. It often appears as a dull, gray or black film or coating over metal. Tarnish is a surface phenomenon that is self-limiting, unlike rust. Only the top few layers of the metal react, and the layer of tarnish seals and protects the underlying layers from reacting. Tarnish actually preserves the underlying metal in outdoor use and is called patina. The formation of patina is necessary in applications such as copper roofing, and outdoor copper, bronze, and brass statues and fittings. Patina is the name given to tarnish on copper based metals.

Definition of tarnish in the English dictionary

The first definition of tarnish in the dictionary is to lose or cause to lose the shine, esp by exposure to air or moisture resulting in surface oxidation; discolour. Other definition of tarnish is to stain or become stained; taint or spoil. Tarnish is also a tarnished condition, surface, or film.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO TARNISH

PRESENT

Present

I tarnish

you tarnish

he/she/it tarnishes

we tarnish

you tarnish

they tarnish

Present continuous

I am tarnishing

you are tarnishing

he/she/it is tarnishing

we are tarnishing

you are tarnishing

they are tarnishing

Present perfect

I have tarnished

you have tarnished

he/she/it has tarnished

we have tarnished

you have tarnished

they have tarnished

Present perfect continuous

I have been tarnishing

you have been tarnishing

he/she/it has been tarnishing

we have been tarnishing

you have been tarnishing

they have been tarnishing

Present tense is used to refer to circumstances that exist at the present time or over a period that includes the present time. The present perfect refers to past events, although it can be considered to denote primarily the resulting present situation rather than the events themselves.

PAST

Past

I tarnished

you tarnished

he/she/it tarnished

we tarnished

you tarnished

they tarnished

Past continuous

I was tarnishing

you were tarnishing

he/she/it was tarnishing

we were tarnishing

you were tarnishing

they were tarnishing

Past perfect

I had tarnished

you had tarnished

he/she/it had tarnished

we had tarnished

you had tarnished

they had tarnished

Past perfect continuous

I had been tarnishing

you had been tarnishing

he/she/it had been tarnishing

we had been tarnishing

you had been tarnishing

they had been tarnishing

Past tense forms express circumstances existing at some time in the past,

FUTURE

Future

I will tarnish

you will tarnish

he/she/it will tarnish

we will tarnish

you will tarnish

they will tarnish

Future continuous

I will be tarnishing

you will be tarnishing

he/she/it will be tarnishing

we will be tarnishing

you will be tarnishing

they will be tarnishing

Future perfect

I will have tarnished

you will have tarnished

he/she/it will have tarnished

we will have tarnished

you will have tarnished

they will have tarnished

Future perfect continuous

I will have been tarnishing

you will have been tarnishing

he/she/it will have been tarnishing

we will have been tarnishing

you will have been tarnishing

they will have been tarnishing

The future is used to express circumstances that will occur at a later time.

CONDITIONAL

Conditional

I would tarnish

you would tarnish

he/she/it would tarnish

we would tarnish

you would tarnish

they would tarnish

Conditional continuous

I would be tarnishing

you would be tarnishing

he/she/it would be tarnishing

we would be tarnishing

you would be tarnishing

they would be tarnishing

Conditional perfect

I would have tarnish

you would have tarnish

he/she/it would have tarnish

we would have tarnish

you would have tarnish

they would have tarnish

Conditional perfect continuous

I would have been tarnishing

you would have been tarnishing

he/she/it would have been tarnishing

we would have been tarnishing

you would have been tarnishing

they would have been tarnishing

Conditional or "future-in-the-past" tense refers to hypothetical or possible actions.

IMPERATIVE

Imperative

you tarnish
we let´s tarnish
you tarnish

The imperative is used to form commands or requests.

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

Infinitive

to tarnish

Past participle

tarnished

Present Participle

tarnishing

Infinitive shows the action beyond temporal perspective. The present participle or gerund shows the action during the session. The past participle shows the action after completion.

SYNONYMS OF «TARNISH»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «tarnish» and belong to the same grammatical category.

synonyms of tarnish

befoul · blacken · blemish · blot · damage · darken · dim · discoloration · discolour · dull · rust · smirch · soil · spot · stain · sully · taint

TRANSLATION OF TARNISH

Find out the translation of tarnish to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of tarnish from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «tarnish» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 玷污
• Translator English - Spanish: empañar
• English: tarnish
• Translator English - Hindi: धूमिल
• Translator English - Arabic: تشويه
• Translator English - Russian: запятнать
• Translator English - Portuguese: empanar o brilho de
• Translator English - Bengali: কলঙ্কিত করা
• Translator English - French: ternir
• Translator English - Malay: Merosakkan
• Translator English - German: beflecken
• Translator English - Japanese: >汚す
• Translator English - Korean: > 손상시키다
• Translator English - Javanese: Tarnish
• Translator English - Vietnamese: làm mờ
• Translator English - Tamil: களங்கம்
• Translator English - Marathi: डाग
• Translator English - Turkish: kirletmek
• Translator English - Italian: macchiare
• Translator English - Polish: przyćmił
• Translator English - Ukrainian: заплямувати
• Translator English - Romanian: păta
• Translator English - Greek: αμαυρώσει
• Translator English - Afrikaans: ontluistering
• Translator English - Swedish: matt
• Translator English - Norwegian: anløpe

2 QUOTES WITH «TARNISH»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word tarnish.

1

Jim Broadbent

A make-up artist I know polished her Oscar and it lost its lustre. But if you don't polish it, it doesn't tarnish.

2

Vinny Guadagnino

I would love a recurring role on '90210.' I would say yes to just about any role in acting that doesn't tarnish my image.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «TARNISH»

Discover the use of tarnish in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to tarnish and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

Tarnish

Anne Boleyn is the odd girl out.

Katherine Longshore, 2013

Tarnish

In this action-packed thriller, Clark is unwittingly caught in a web of corruption, deceit, and desperation as he attempts to take down powerful culprits who want to teach him one important lesson-that life can change in an instant.

S. Watts Taylor, 2011

Tarnish: Webster's Quotations, Facts and Phrases

Proceeds from this book are used to expand the content and coverage of Websters Online Dictionary (www.websters-online-dictionary.org).

‎2008

Silver May Tarnish

A fast-paced Witch World adventure by the authors of The Duke's Ballad finds heir Lorcan making a stand in the dale of the maiden Meive, where they hope to create a safe haven for those who have lost land or kin during a devastating war.

Andre Norton, Lyn McConchie, 2006

Tarnish: The True Story of a Lion Cub

This is a new release of the original 1944 edition.

Osa Johnson, 2013

Tarnish and Masquerade

A veteran of the spoken-word scene, two-time National Slam Champion Roger Bonair-Agard releases his first full length poetry collection with accompanying CD full of spellbinding performances.

Roger Bonair-Agard, 2006

Microscopical Determination of the Opaque Minerals: An Aid ...

White Other common white White minerals . . . . . . . . . . Effect of treatment with Texture HNOi,1:1 1:2 1:4 HCl,1:1 Hg O Smooth 0 0 0 0 Amalg_a- H: mation H Rough 0 0 0 0 0 >51 Slightly rough Black Black 0 0 0 P1 tarnish ...

Joseph Murdoch, 1916

Contributions from the Geological Department of Columbia ...

Smooth. Smooth. h. gh. HNQ1, 1:1. 1:2 1:4. HCI, 1:1. Hg. 0 1 0 0 0 Amalgamation. 0 ' o 0 0 0 Black tarnish. 'Black tarnish. 0 0 0 Black tarnish. 'Black tarnish. 0 0 0 l 0 1 0 0 0 0 Bronze tarnish. Bronze tarnish. 0 0 0 Bronze tarnish. 'Bronze tarnish.

‎1912

Please God, Don't Let My Badge Tarnish

"Please God, Don't Let My Badge Tarnish" is the story of LaChapelle's struggle to work in the department after his shocking discovery.

Kevin M LaChapelle, 2006

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Yellow tarnish. Dull tarnish. Red tarnish. Film of tarnish. Slight tarnish. Slight tarnish. Slight tarnish. Red tarnish. Altered to hepatic limonite. Slight tarnish. Rapid tarnish, vitriolescence and disintegration. Slight iridescence Bronze tarnish and ...

New York Academy of Sciences, Wiley online library, 1889

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «TARNISH»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term tarnish is used in the context of the following news items.

NZX 'strongly opposes' exemption for Unlisted, saying it could …

"The lack of these basic shareholder protections is arguably tacit acceptance of the type of market misconduct which has the potential to tarnish the reputation of ... «The National Business Review, Jul 15»

'To try to tarnish his name is disgusting' - Jade Lynch on Helen …

Polyamorous Irish model Jade Lynch has come out in defence of fellow Big Brother housemate Brian Belo who was prompted to leave house following ... «Irish Independent, Jun 15»

BJP accuses Congress of fabricating stories to tarnish party image

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Deepak Vijayvargiya on Friday accused the Congress of fabricating stories to tarnish the party's image over the recent ... «Financial Express, Jun 15»

Stevan Ridley says DeflateGate doesn't tarnish Patriots' Super Bowl …

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Stevan Ridley was hoping to avoid the topic, but the former Patriots running back couldn't escape the questions in his first interview with ... «Newsday, Jun 15»

Don't tarnish my image, Yuguda tells new Bauchi governor

The immediate past governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, has advised the governor of the state, Muhammed Abubakar, not to tarnish the image of his ... «Premium Times, Jun 15»

FIFA Arrests Unlikely To Tarnish The Women's World Cup

The Women's World Cup kicks off Saturday in Canada. Twenty-four teams will compete in six cities. NPR's Scott Simon talks to NPR's Shereen Marisol Meraji ... «NPR, Jun 15»

Migrants Fleeing Country Are 'Mentally Sick' And 'Tarnish' Country's …

A refugee from Bangladesh, who was rescued by the Myanmar navy, is seen at a temporary refugee camp in Aletankyaw village, Rakhine state, May 23, 2015. «International Business Times, May 15»

More tarnish on Patriot legacy, this time tainting Tom Brady

It's a bad day for the Patriots. It's an especially bad day for New England's iconic quarterback, Tom Brady. The Patriots are Super Bowl champs, but the NFL also ... «Boston Globe, May 15»

Deflategate: Will It Tarnish Tom Brady's Legacy?

Deflategate has taught us that Tom Brady is a cheater and a liar, more than likely. This was spelled out in The Wells Report on the fiasco. “Based on the ... «The Inquisitr, May 15»

Supply Problems Buff Away Some of Copper's Tarnish

Bad news is good news for copper bulls. After being weighed down for years by slowing demand in China, prices of the industrial metal are on the rise again in ... «Wall Street Journal, Apr 15»