Tarnish vs Debase - What's the difference?
tarnish | debase | Related terms |
Oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.
To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.
To soil, sully, damage or compromise
(figurative) To lose its lustre or attraction; to become dull.
* Dryden
To lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade.
(archaic) To lower in position or rank.Oxford English Dictionary , 2nd ed., 1989.
To lower the value of (a currency) by reducing the amount of valuable metal in the coins.
In transitive terms the difference between tarnish and debase
is that tarnish is to soil, sully, damage or compromise while debase is to lower the value of (a currency) by reducing the amount of valuable metal in the coins.As verbs the difference between tarnish and debase
is that tarnish is to oxidize or discolor due to oxidation while debase is to lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade.As a noun tarnish
is oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.tarnish
English
Noun
(-)Verb
(es)- Careful storage of silver will prevent it from tarnishing .
- He is afraid that he will tarnish his reputation if he disagrees.
- Till thy fresh glories, which now shine so bright, / Grow stale and tarnish with our daily sight.
