The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word STAIN
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
T
A
I
N
More clues leading to the result STAIN
- Mark, good person, regularly patient
- It's an odd discolouration
- Mark, there’s only one time for heart pill
- Wrong to accept thanks for blemish
- “Man of steel” ignores large mark
- Don’t go out without your cap? It’s a shame
- Spot wartime leader dropping piece of litter
- Liberal given the boot by dictator Mark
- Earlier time for holy man’s character flaw
- Rejected eggs containing a flaw
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Mark" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case mark = stain.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does STAIN mean?
STAIN noun- A discoloured spot or area.
- A blemish on one's character or reputation.
- 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.
- Any of a number of non-standard tinctures used in modern heraldry.
- To discolour.
- To taint or tarnish someone's character or reputation
- To coat a surface with a stain
- To become stained; to take a stain.
- To treat (a microscopic specimen) with a dye, especially one that dyes specific features
- To cause to seem inferior or soiled by comparison.