Tarnish /(?)/

imp. & p. p. Tarnished; p. pr. & vb. n. Tarnishing

1. 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.

1. To lose luster; to become dull; as, gilding will tarnish in a foul air.

   Till thy fresh glories, which now shine so bright, Grow stale and tarnish with our daily sight.

1. The quality or state of being tarnished; stain; soil; blemish.
2. A thin film on the surface of a metal, usually due to a slight alteration of the original color; as, the steel tarnish in columbite. (Min.)