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Glite Dictionary
to discolor

to discolor

4 4.1
To become faded or stained
  • verb
  • /dɪsˈkʌlər/
  • US
: descolorarse
  • Her white dress was discolored from the spilled juice at the party.
  • discolored water
  • become discolored

It helps with dullness of the skin, helps the skin discolor, and it also helps with collagen production.

Examples

  • The chipped enamel pot I lifted from the sink had become discolored from iron or minerals in the water.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Charlotte leaned close to examine the faint, slightly discolored lines where the new walls met the old.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • The metal is discolored, possibly from the generation of some terrific heat.

    The Man from Planet X (1951)

  • The tannins in the wood can discolor the paint layer.

  • Some of the hydrochloric acid ran into the mouth, discoloring the face.

    Swoon (1992)

  • The skin was unbroken, but was badly discolored.

    Where Eagles Dare (1968)

  • Her teeth were faintly discolored, as if she'd had a quick bite of ashes.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Around it, the flesh was discolored and swollen with vivid blotches of violet and blue.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • His remaining teeth were discolored or broken; his cheeks were bumpy with ingrown hairs.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • But, just as rapidly, those paintings began to deteriorate as objects, flaking, discoloring, and visibly altering over time.

    Academic text (2015)

Synonyms

to tarnish
vsto discolor
65 4.9

To make something like metal or a reputation lose its shine

means a change toward faded or stained appearance rather than simple dullness
to bleach
vsto discolor
30 3.2

To make something lighter in color, often using chemicals or sunlight

refers to color change that often appears faded or stained not only whitening
to bleach out
vsto discolor
4 3.8

Make clothes and similar things much lighter in color, usually by sunlight or chemicals

focuses on color loss that may be accidental not only deliberate whitening
to wash out
vsto discolor
3 4.0

Make a color on clothes become lighter when you clean them

describes general color change not limited to washing
to desaturate
vsto discolor
  • Specialized
1 7.1

To make the colors in a picture less bright so it looks more gray

focuses on visible unattractive change rather than technical loss of intensity
to decolor
vsto discolor
  • US
1 7.9

To make something lose its color or become lighter

often causes unattractive fading or staining rather than deliberate whitening
to decolorize
vsto discolor
  • US
1 7.0

To take the color out of something like fabric or a photograph

can mean general color change that may leave stains or dullness
to discolorize
vsto discolor
  • US
8.9

To make something lose its color or become lighter

changes color broadly often leaving a faded or stained appearance
to decolourize
vsto discolor
  • UK
7.7

To make something lose its color

covers broader color loss including fading or staining not only whitening

Antonyms

to restore
122 3.8

Make someone feel healthy and full of energy again

to color
  • US
75 1.0

To make something a different shade by painting or dyeing

to brighten
71 2.7

To make a place or thing look more cheerful by adding color

Compounds

Salix discolor
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A small North American willow with grey leaves and soft furry catkins that appear before the leaves

Cirsium discolor
  • Specialized
9.9

A large prickly plant native to North America with purple-pink flower heads that bees and butterflies visit

How Faded

to bleach
30 3.2
to discolor
  • US
4 4.1
to fade
454 1.2

Surface Forms

discolor infinitive
discolored past
discolored past participle
discoloring present participle
discolors third person singular

Morphology

discolor = color (transparent) = dis + color

The meaning is a regular prefixed extension of 'color', meaning to remove, alter, or spoil the color of something.

Etymology

The word discolor combines the prefix dis- ('away') and color ('color'), so it is like saying the color goes away. That's why to discolor something means it loses or changes its color and looks faded or stained.