Elgin marbles

[ el-gin, -jin ]

/ ˈɛl gɪn, -dʒɪn /

Save This Word!

plural noun

a group of Greek sculptures of the 5th century b.c., originally on the Parthenon in Athens, and supposedly sculptured under the direction of Phidias: presently in the British Museum in London.

QUIZ

GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!

Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.

Question 1 of 9

Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of Elgin marbles

After Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin (1766–1841), who arranged for their removal from Athens

Words nearby Elgin marbles

elflock, El Fostat, elf owl, Elgar, Elgin, Elgin marbles, El Giza, Elgon, El Greco, El Hasa, elhi

How to use Elgin marbles in a sentence

Geoffrey Robertson and Amal Clooney helped Greece fight for the return of the Elgin Marbles.
Britain Has Lost Its Marbles: Elgin Loan Will Appease Putin|Geoffrey Robertson|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In London it is located in the Duveen Gallery where half the extant marbles sit under white light as if in a morgue.
Britain Has Lost Its Marbles: Elgin Loan Will Appease Putin|Geoffrey Robertson|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Pat Robertson has lost his marbles, seemingly, and after him, who?
The Religious Right’s Slow-Motion Suicide|Michael Tomasky|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Either way, the Internet lost its collective marbles over it.
Did Beyoncé Just Accuse Jay Z of Cheating?|Marlow Stern|July 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In the photo, Baldwin is staring longingly into the camera, his eyes like two giant marbles, his chin resting in his hand.
Broadway’s Rebel, Tellin’ You to Hear It: A Portrait of Saul Williams|Alex Suskind|June 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On a Sunday, a lady called to her little boy, who was tossing marbles on the side walk, to come in the house.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
The Roman republic established and the first consuls elected, according to the Capitoline marbles.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Now Suzanne is far away from the Louvre and the old Greek marbles; she is in the kingdom of the birds and the flowers.
Child Life In Town And Country|Anatole France
For in my opinion it was no more damaged for defence than a brick wall would be by a boy's snapping marbles against it.
The Supplies for the Confederate Army|Caleb Huse
A few tried marbles, but there was scarcely light for the purpose, and ring-taw was quickly abandoned.
Digby Heathcote|W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for Elgin marbles

Elgin marbles

pl n

a group of 5th-century bc Greek sculptures originally decorating the Parthenon in Athens, brought to England by Thomas Bruce, seventh Earl of Elgin (1766–1841), and now at the British Museum

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012