Tar·nish v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tarnished p. pr. & vb. n. Tarnishing.] 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.
tarnished
adj : especially of reputation; "the senator's seriously damaged
reputation"; "a flyblown reputation"; "a tarnished
reputation"; "inherited a spotted name" [syn: besmirched,
damaged, flyblown, spotted, stained, sullied,
tainted]