TARNISHING

Verb

tarnishing

present participle of tarnish

Noun

tarnishing (plural tarnishings)

The act by which something is tarnished.

Source: Wiktionary

TARNISH

Tar"nish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tarnished; p. pr. & vb. n. Tarnishing.] Etym: [F. ternir, fr. OHG. tarnen to darken, to conceal, hide; akin to OS. dernian to hide, AS. dernan, dyrnan, OHG. tarni hidden, OS. derni, AS. derne, dyrne. Cf. Dern, a., and see -ish.]

Definition: 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. "Tarnished lace." Fuller. Used also figuratively; as, to tarnish one's honor.

Syn.

– To sully; stain; dim.

Tar"nish, v. i.

Definition: To lose luster; to become dull; as, gilding will tarnish in a foul air. Till thy fresh glories, which now shine so bright, Grow stale and tarnish with our daily sight. Dryden.

Tar"nish, n.

1. The quality or state of being tarnished; stain; soil; blemish.

2. (Min.)

Definition: 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition