1. Discolouration of metal surface caused by oxidation
   "The silver jewellery had developed a noticeable tarnish over time"

1. Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air
   "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air";
   - stain, maculate [literary], sully, defile, soil
    
2. (of someone's image or good reputation) damage, place under suspicion or cast doubt upon
   "the scandal tarnishd his good reputation";
   - defile, sully, taint, cloud, stain, soil

Derived forms: tarnished, tarnishes, tarnishing

Type of: blob, blot, deflower, discoloration, discolouration [Brit, Cdn], fleck, impair, mar, pollute, spoil, spot, stain, vitiate

Encyclopedia: Tarnish