A
substance you can apply to wood to change its
color, protect the
wood, and give it a
richer appearance. Stains come in
oil-based and
water-based varieties; the oil-based stains are reputed to have a richer color and perhaps offer more
protection to the wood, but are less
environmentally friendly. The water-based ones are easier to
clean up and
dispose of.
You can save a lot of money by buying unfinished furniture and staining it yourself, if you're willing to invest the sweat.