Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To soil or diminish the appearance of, especially 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. 2. (v. i.) To lose luster; to become dull; as, gilding will tarnish in a foul air. 3. (n.) The quality or state of being tarnished; stain; soil; blemish. 4. (n.) 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.

Multi-Version Concordance Tarnish (1 Occurrence) Ezekiel 28:7 therefore behold, I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall tarnish thy brightness. (DBY)