tarnish
/ˈtɑːnɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtɑːrnɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtär-nish/ (ame, mw)
tarnish — verb
- tarnishpresent simple I / you / we / they
- tarnisheshe / she / it
- tarnishedpast simple
- tarnishing-ing form
1. When a metal surface reacts with the air and changes colour, it becomes less bri
When a metal surface reacts with the air and changes colour, it becomes less bright and shiny — either by itself or because something causes the change.
Yuki noticed her silver necklace had begun to tarnish after just a few months.
intransitive use: silver + tarnish naturally over time
The damp air in the bathroom quickly tarnishes brass fittings and door handles.
transitive: damp air tarnishes brass objects
If you do not polish the copper pot, it will tarnish and turn dull brown.
Kofi used a soft cloth to wipe the tarnished medal until the original shine returned.
Salt water will quickly tarnish the ship's brass fixtures if they are not cleaned regularly.
文法句型
tarnish (intransitive) — the metal becomes dull
tarnish + object — something causes the metal to become dull
用法筆記
The literal sense can be used intransitively (the metal tarnishes by itself as a natural process) or transitively (something external causes the metal to tarnish). The intransitive use is common when describing the behaviour of a type of metal over time, while the transitive use specifies the cause.
常見錯誤
2. to spoil the good opinion that people have of a person or an organisation, makin
to spoil the good opinion that people have of a person or an organisation, making them appear less honest, admirable, or trustworthy.
The financial scandal tarnished the senator's reputation among voters across the state.
common pattern: scandal tarnishes + reputation
Anika worried that her brother's arrest would tarnish the family name in their small town.
The company's decision to hide the product defect tarnished its image with consumers for years.
Diego felt the false rumours had tarnished his standing among the other musicians.
A single act of dishonesty can tarnish a career that took decades to build.
文法句型
tarnish + noun (reputation / image / name / character / record / standing)
用法筆記
The figurative sense is nearly always transitive — the tarnishing agent (scandal, rumour, dishonest act) is the subject, and the damaged reputation is the object. The object is typically an abstract noun such as 'reputation', 'image', 'name', 'character', 'record', or 'standing'. This sense is very common in news reporting, political commentary, and formal discussion of ethics.
常見錯誤
tarnish — noun
1. a thin, dull layer that forms on the surface of certain metals, especially silve
a thin, dull layer that forms on the surface of certain metals, especially silver and copper, when a chemical reaction takes place with the air.
A gentle polish with a soft cloth removed the tarnish from the old silver spoon.
remove tarnish + from [object]
The jeweller said the black tarnish on that brooch is common on old silver.
Sofia used a soft cloth to wipe the tarnish off the brass candlesticks before dinner.
The curator removed the green tarnish from the ancient copper bowl using a mild acid.
When oxygen meets silver, a thin layer of tarnish forms almost immediately on the surface.
- oxidation layer
more technical term that names the chemical process directly
- patina
a coloured layer that forms on metals over time; often valued on bronze or copper, whereas tarnish is usually unwanted
- lustre
the bright, reflective quality that tarnish removes from a metal surface
文法句型
the tarnish + on [metal object]
a tarnish (specific instance)
用法筆記
As an uncountable noun, 'tarnish' refers to the substance or condition in general ('a layer of tarnish'). As a countable noun, 'a tarnish' refers to a specific patch or instance of discolouration. This noun is much less common than the verb form and appears mainly in writing about jewellery, metalwork, antiques, and chemistry.