"staining" in the noun sense
1. staining
histology) the use of a dye to color specimens for microscopic study
2. staining, spotting, maculation
the act of spotting or staining something
"staining" in the verb sense
1. stain
color with a liquid dye or tint
"Stain this table a beautiful walnut color"
"people knew how to stain glass a beautiful blue in the middle ages"
2. stain
produce or leave stains
"Red wine stains the table cloth"
3. tarnish, stain, maculate, sully, defile
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"
4. stain
color for microscopic study
"The laboratory worker dyed the specimen"
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
Princeton University "About WordNet®."
WordNet®. Princeton University. 2010.
View WordNet® License