maculer

Senses

1. 1.

   to stain

   to mark or soil with spots or marks

2. 2.

   to tarnish

   to damage or diminish the purity or reputation of something

Examples

• "Le vin a maculé sa chemise blanche."

  The wine stained his white shirt.

• "Ce scandale a maculé sa réputation."

  This scandal tarnished his reputation.

• "La pluie acide macule les feuilles des plantes."

  Acid rain stains the leaves of plants.

Usage

A formal or literary verb meaning to soil, stain, or tarnish. It can refer to physical staining (with mud, ink, etc.) or figurative tarnishing (of reputation or honor). Fairly common in written French, less so in everyday speech.