tarnish
tar·nish [tarnish tarnishes tarnished tarnishing] verb, noun BrE [ˈtɑːnɪʃ] NAmE [ˈtɑːrnɪʃ]
verb
1. intransitive, transitive if metal tarnishes or sth tarnishes it, it no longer looks bright and shiny
•The mirrors had tarnished with age.
•~ sth The silver candlesticks were tarnished and dusty.
2. transitive ~ sth to spoil the good opinion people have of sb/sth
Syn: ↑taint
•He hopes to improve the newspaper's somewhat tarnished public image.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
late Middle English (as a verb): from French terniss-, lengthened stem of ternir, from terne ‘dark, dull’.
Example Bank:
•their severely tarnished reputation
noun singular, uncountable
a thin layer on the surface of a metal that makes it look dull and not bright
Word Origin:
late Middle English (as a verb): from French terniss-, lengthened stem of ternir, from terne ‘dark, dull’.
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