1
- a trace of a bad or undesirable quality or substance品质恶劣的迹象, 污点; 污迹：
the taint of corruption which adhered to the government.
政府一直摆脱不掉的腐败污点。
1.1
- a thing whose influence or effect is perceived as contaminating or undesirable污点：
the taint that threatens to stain most of the company's other partners.
威胁到公司绝大部分的合作伙伴名誉的劣迹。
1.2
- an unpleasant smell难闻的气味：
the lingering taint of creosote.
杂酚久久不去的难闻气味。
with obj.(常作be tainted)
1- contaminate or pollute (something)污染：
the air was tainted by fumes from the cars.
空气被汽车排出的废气所污染。
1.1
- affect with a bad or undesirable quality败坏：
his administration was tainted by scandal.
他的管理因丑闻而名声败坏。
1.2
- no obj. archaic (of food or water) become contaminated or polluted〈古〉（食品, 水）被污染。
派生词
taintless
adjective （ poetic/literary〈诗/文〉）词源
Middle English （as a verb in the sense 'convict， prove guilty'）： partly from Old French teint 'tinged'， based on Latin tingere 'to dye， tinge'; partly a shortening of ATTAINT.