blackening

== English == === Etymology === From blacken +‎ -ing. === Verb === blackening present participle and gerund of blacken === Noun === blackening (countable and uncountable, plural blackenings) (uncountable) The act or process of turning (becoming) black in colour. (countable) The result or an instance of such an act or process; a black stain or mark. Any of various (dark-colored) surface treatments for metal substrates, to inhibit corrosion. Hypernyms: coating, finish Coordinate terms: (sometimes synonymous) bluing, browning, black oxide, phosphating; (other) passivation, plating, electroplating, galvanizing The act of defaming or sullying. blackenings of my reputation