 maculate |
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| 1. | [ verb ] make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air, of metals; also used metaphorically | |
| Synonyms: | tarnish stain defile sully | |
| Examples: | : "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air" "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man" |
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| Related terms: | spot darken blot macule tarnish | |
| 2. | [ adjective ] spotted or blotched | |
| Related terms: | dirty | |
| 3. | [ adjective ] morally blemished; stained or impure | |
| Synonyms: | defiled | |
| Related terms: | impure | |
| 4. | [ verb ] spot, stain, or pollute | |
| Synonyms: | befoul defile foul | |
| Examples: | "The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it" |
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| Related terms: | dishonor macule defiler befoulment | |
| Similar spelling: |
maculation |
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