To sully; to soil by an alteration induced by the air, or by dust and the like; to diminish or destroy luster; as, to tarnish a metal; to tarnish gilding; to tarnish the brightness or beauty of color.

To diminish or destroy the purity of; as to tarnish reputation or honor.

To lose luster; to become dull; as, polished substances of gilding will tarnish in the course of time. Metals tarnish by oxydation.