unstained
/ʌnˈsteɪnd/ (bre, ipa) · [ənstˈend] /ʌnˈsteɪnd/ (ame, ipa) · [ənstˈend] /ˌən-ˈstānd How to pronounce unstained (audio)/ (ame, mw)
unstained — adjective
- unstainedpositive
- more unstainedcomparative
- most unstainedsuperlative
1. still clean and showing no visible spots, dirty marks, or other stains.
still clean and showing no visible spots, dirty marks, or other stains.
Defne pulled an unstained white shirt from the back of the cupboard.
adjective before clothing with no visible marks
After the spill, only one unstained plate remained on the picnic table.
contrast after a mess or spill
The museum kept the letter in an unstained paper sleeve.
Nora found an unstained corner of the rug for the baby to sit on.
用法筆記
Usually describes cloth, paper, walls, dishes, or other surfaces that have stayed clean while nearby things became marked. It refers to visible marks on the object itself, not to reputation or moral character.
2. still regarded as honest and respectable, with no shame attached to a person's p
still regarded as honest and respectable, with no shame attached to a person's public name.
Even after the inquiry, the judge left office with an unstained reputation.
common collocation: unstained reputation
Jessica guarded the family's unstained name through years of public work.
used with name meaning public standing
The coach wanted to retire with his unstained record still intact.
Zuri helped the charity keep an unstained public image for years.
- untarnished
similarly formal and often used of reputation or fame
- honorable
focuses more on worthy conduct than on public opinion
- clean
informal in this figurative meaning, as in a clean record
用法筆記
Usually follows nouns such as reputation, name, record, or image. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is about what other people think of someone, not the person's inner moral state.
3. not spoiled by bad influence, and still morally good in character.
not spoiled by bad influence, and still morally good in character.
The novel shows a child trying to stay unstained in a cruel court.
figurative: remain morally untouched
Elise hoped village life would keep her brother's mind unstained.
used with mind or heart in moral sense
Christopher admired teachers who remained unstained by greed and fear.
Yumi prayed her son's heart would stay kind and unstained.
- pure
more common and can refer to moral or spiritual innocence
- innocent
often stresses lack of guilt rather than freedom from corruption
- uncorrupted
emphasizes resistance to pressure, money, or bad influence
用法筆記
Often appears in literary or religious writing with words like heart, soul, mind, or life. Distinguish from sense 2: here the quality belongs to the person or character itself, not merely to outside reputation.
4. left in its natural colour because no dye or colouring treatment has been added.
left in its natural colour because no dye or colouring treatment has been added.
The lab compared unstained cells with the blue sample under a microscope.
contrast with a coloured sample
Camila chose unstained wood so the table kept its pale natural shade.
material kept in its original colour
The guide showed us an unstained cloth beside one dyed bright red.
Vikram preferred unstained glass jars because he liked their natural look.
用法筆記
Used for material that has not been coloured by dye, stain, or another treatment. Common subjects are wood, cloth, glass, and scientific samples rather than everyday dirty objects.