taint
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taint 1
(tānt)tr.v. taint·ed, taint·ing, taints
1. To affect or associate with something undesirable or reprehensible: a reputation that was tainted by allegations of illegal activity.
2.
a. To expose to an infectious agent, toxin, or undesirable substance: drinking water that is tainted with parasites; toothpaste that is tainted with toxic metals.
b. To subject to decay or putrefaction: would not eat the meat for fear that it was tainted. See Synonyms at contaminate.
n.
1. An undesirable or corrupting influence or association: wanted to avoid the taint of an accounting scandal. See Synonyms at stain.
2. An undesirable quality; a defect or shortcoming: "I confess to a taint of exhibitionism" (F. Scott Fitzgerald).
[Partly from obsolete taynt, to color, dye (from Anglo-Norman teint, from past participle of teindre, from Latin tingere), and partly from Middle English tainten, to convict (short for atteinten, from Old French ataint, past participle of ataindre, to attain, touch upon; see attain).]
taint′less adj.
taint′less·ly adv.
taint 2
(tānt)n. Vulgar Slang
The perineum.
[From such phrases as 'tain't asshole and 'tain't pussy and 'tain't asshole and 'tain't balls.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
taint
(teɪnt)vb
1. to affect or be affected by pollution or contamination: oil has tainted the water.
2. to tarnish (someone's reputation, etc)
n
3. a defect or flaw: a taint on someone's reputation.
4. a trace of contamination or infection
[C14: (influenced by attaint infected, from attain) from Old French teindre to dye, from Latin tingere to dye]
ˈtaintless adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
taint
(teɪnt)n.
1. a trace of something bad or offensive.
2. a trace of infection or contamination.
v.t. 3. to modify by a trace of something bad or offensive.
4. to infect or contaminate.
5. to sully or tarnish (a person's name, reputation, etc.).
v.i. 6. to become tainted; spoil.
[1325–75; conflation of Middle English taynt (aph. variant of attaint, past participle of attaint) with late Middle English taynt hue, tint (< Anglo-French teint < Latin tinctus)]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
taint
Past participle: tainted
Gerund: tainting
| Imperative |
|---|
| taint |
| taint |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  taint - the state of being contaminated impureness, impurity - the condition of being impure dust contamination - state of being contaminated with dust |
| Verb | 1. | taint - place under suspicion or cast doubt upon; "sully someone's reputation" |
| 2. | taint - contaminate with a disease or microorganism superinfect - infect (an infected cell) further or infect a cell already containing similar organisms smut - affect with smut or mildew, as of a crop such as corn |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
taint
verb
noun
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
taint
verb1. To become or cause to become rotten or unsound:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
taint
[teɪnt]B. VT
1. (= spoil) [+ food, medicine] → contaminar
2. (fig) [+ reputation] → mancillar
the elections have been tainted by corruption → las elecciones se han visto empañadas or salpicadas por la corrupción
the elections have been tainted by corruption → las elecciones se han visto empañadas or salpicadas por la corrupción
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
taint
(teint) verb1. to spoil (something) by touching it or bringing it into contact with something bad or rotten. The meat has been tainted.echar a perder; contaminar
2. to affect (someone or something) with something evil or immoral; to corrupt. He has been tainted by his contact with criminals.contaminar; corromper
noun a mark or trace of something bad, rotten or evil. the taint of decay. mancha, mancilla; corrupción
ˈtainted adjective spoiled or corrupted. tainted food; The nation is tainted with evil and corruption. echado a perder; viciado, corrompido
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
taint
n. [stain] mancha, mácula;
v. manchar, podrirse o causar putrefacción; corromperse.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012