What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Tarnish vs Patina - What's the difference?

tarnish | patina |

As nouns the difference between tarnish and patina

is that tarnish is oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air while patina is a paten, flat type of dish.

As a verb tarnish

is to oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.

As an adjective patina is

of a green colour, tinted with grey, like that of bronze patina.

tarnish

English

Noun

(-)
  • Oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.
  • Verb

    (es)
  • To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.
  • Careful storage of silver will prevent it from tarnishing .
  • To soil, sully, damage or compromise
  • He is afraid that he will tarnish his reputation if he disagrees.
  • (figurative) To lose its lustre or attraction; to become dull.
  • * Dryden
  • Till thy fresh glories, which now shine so bright, / Grow stale and tarnish with our daily sight.

    patina

    English

    (wikipedia patina)

    Noun

  • (originally) A paten, flat type of dish
  • The color or incrustation which age and wear give to (mainly metallic) objects; especially, the green rust which covers works of art such as ancient bronzes, coins and medals.
  • A green colour, tinted with grey, like that of bronze patina.
  • (figurative) A gloss or superficial layer.
  • * 2012 , Alison Winter, Memory: Fragments of a Modern History
  • It demonstrates how scientific authority could be constructed on the fly, as it were, by someone with no connections and no psychological credentials who offered a technique that had the patina of modern science

    Hyponyms

    * (color or incrustation which age and wear give to objects) verdigris

    Derived terms

    * patinaed

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Of a green colour, tinted with grey, like that of bronze patina.
  • Derived terms

    * patinate, to coat with a patina

    See also

    * * verdigris

    Anagrams

    * ----