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

A formal living room and dining room are on the first floor, as is the gorgeous kitchen with lots of shiny subway tile, marble counters, and an island with wine storage.

From MarketWatch

Much like the rest of the dwelling, the space has a very muted aesthetic, with textured beige walls and a gray marble fireplace, above which a TV is mounted on the wall.

From MarketWatch

Neoclassical busts are cast in sand, marble and bronze and carved through with winding stairs, arched doors and regal columns.

From The Wall Street Journal

Turkey is now seeking the repatriation of other antiquities taken during the Ottoman era: an ancient marble torso called the "Old Fisherman" from Berlin, and dozens of Iznik tiles held at France's Louvre museum.

From Barron's

Even in the summer the chill never left the marble grave slabs on the floor.

From Literature