marble

¹ American  

[mahr-buhl] / ˈmɑr bəl /

noun

1. metamorphosed limestone, consisting chiefly of recrystallized calcite or dolomite, capable of taking a high polish, occurring in a wide range of colors and variegations and used in sculpture and architecture.

2. any variety of this stone.

   Carrara marble.

3. an object made of or carved from this stone, especially a sculpture.

   Renaissance marbles.

4. a piece of this stone.

   the fallen marbles of Roman ruins.

5. (not in technical use) any of various breccias or other stones that take a high polish and show a variegated pattern.

6. a marbled appearance or pattern; marbling.

   The woodwork had a greenish marble.

7. anything resembling marble in hardness, coldness, smoothness, etc..

   a brow of marble.

8. something lacking in warmth or feeling.

9. a little ball made of stone, baked clay, glass, porcelain, agate, or steel, especially for use in games.

10. (used with a singular verb) marbles, a game for children in which a marble is propelled by the thumb to hit another marble so as to drive it out of a circle drawn or scratched on the ground.

11. Slang. marbles, normal rational faculties; sanity; wits; common sense.

    to have all one's marbles; to lose one's marbles.

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adjective

1. consisting or made of marble.

2. like marble, as in hardness, coldness, smoothness, etc.

3. lacking in warmth, compassion, or sympathy.

   marble heart.

4. of variegated or mottled color.

verb (used with object)

marbled, marbling

1. to color or stain like variegated marble.

2. to apply a decorative pattern to (paper, the edges of a book, etc.) by transferring oil pigments floating on water.

Marble ² American  

[mahr-buhl] / ˈmɑr bəl /

noun

1. Alice, 1913–90, U.S. tennis player.

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marble British  

/ ˈmɑːbəl /

noun

1. 1. a hard crystalline metamorphic rock resulting from the recrystallization of a limestone: takes a high polish and is used for building and sculpture

   2. ( as modifier )

      a marble bust

2. a block or work of art of marble

3. a small round glass or stone ball used in playing marbles

4. informal to succeed or do the right thing

5. informal to die

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verb

1. (tr) to mottle with variegated streaks in imitation of marble

adjective

1. cold, hard, or unresponsive

2. white like some kinds of marble

marble Scientific  

/ mär′bəl /

1. A metamorphic rock consisting primarily of calcite and dolomite. Marble is formed by the metamorphism of limestone. Although it is usually white to gray in color, it often has irregularly colored marks due to the presence of impurities such as silica and clay. Marble is used especially in sculpture and as a building material.

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marble Idioms  

1. see have all one's buttons (marbles).

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Other Word Forms

• marbled adjective
• marbler noun
• marbly adjective
• unmarbled adjective

Etymology

Origin of marble

1150–1200; Middle English marbel, dissimilated variant of Old English marmel (in marmelstān marble stone) < Latin marmor < Greek mármaros, akin to marmaírein to sparkle

Example Sentences

The master bathroom is the epitome of elegance as it boasts marble countertop vanities, a large soaking tub, and a glass-enclosed shower.

From MarketWatch

I place my glass on a marble coaster and cross my hands in my lap.

From Literature

This includes valuable natural resources such as marble, gold, iridium, uranium and thorium and also possible deposits of oil and gas, with the information prepared by UK government officials, working for the Helmand reconstruction team.

From BBC

Danny’s heavy feet echoed down the long hallway of smooth marble floors.

From Literature

I was still sitting there like a marble statue of Distressa, Patron Saint of Dread and Dumbfoundedness: mouth and eyes wide open, arms and legs sticking out, and everything as stiff as a board.

From Literature