marmoreal

American  

[mahr-mawr-ee-uhl] / mɑrˈmɔr i əl /

Also marmorean

adjective

1. of or like marble.

   skin of marmoreal smoothness.

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marmoreal British  

/ mɑːˈmɔːrɪəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling marble

   a marmoreal complexion

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Other Word Forms

• marmoreally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of marmoreal

1790–1800; < Latin marmore ( us ) made of marble ( see marble, -eous) + -al ¹

Explanation

Anything marmoreal is smooth and white or otherwise characteristic of marble, like a pale face or a tombstone. Marmoreal is an old-fashioned, fancy word for "marble-like." It describes anything that resembles marble in appearance or quality. This could be a statue with a polished, smooth surface or an elegant building with marble-like columns. You can use the adjective to describe people as well — especially if they're a bit pale or rigid in appearance.

Example Sentences

In one of many revivals, it became a mainstay of millennial interiors in the 2010s, thanks partly to the popularity of the British designer Max Lamb’s innovative large-aggregate Marmoreal version, developed in 2014.

From New York Times • Sep. 15, 2023