stain vs tint

stain

noun
  • A substance used to soak into a surface and colour it. 

  • A reagent or dye used to stain microscope specimens so as to make some structures visible. 

  • A discoloured spot or area. 

  • Any of a number of non-standard tinctures used in modern heraldry. 

  • A blemish on one's character or reputation. 

verb
  • To cause to seem inferior or soiled by comparison. 

  • To coat a surface with a stain 

  • To treat (a microscopic specimen) with a dye, especially one that dyes specific features 

  • To taint or tarnish someone's character or reputation 

  • To discolour. 

  • To become stained; to take a stain. 

tint

noun
  • A slight coloring. 

  • A pale or faint tinge of any color; especially, a variation of a color obtained by adding white (contrast shade) 

  • A shaded effect in engraving, produced by the juxtaposition of many fine parallel lines. 

  • A vehicle window that has been darkened to conceal the occupant. 

  • A color considered with reference to other very similar colors. 

verb
  • To shade, to color. 

abbrev
  • it is not; it isn't; 'tisn't; it'sn't 

How often have the words stain and tint occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )