marbling

[mahr-bling]

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noun

the act, process, or art of coloring or staining in imitation of variegated marble.

an appearance like that of variegated marble.

the intermixture of fat with lean in a cut of meat, which contributes to flavor and tenderness.

Bookbinding. marblelike decoration on the paper edges, lining, or binding boards of a book.

Origin of marbling

First recorded in 1680–90; marble + -ing¹

marble

[mahr-buh l]

noun

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.

any variety of this stone: Carrara marble.

an object made of or carved from this stone, especially a sculpture: Renaissance marbles.

a piece of this stone: the fallen marbles of Roman ruins.

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

a marbled appearance or pattern; marbling: The woodwork had a greenish marble.

anything resembling marble in hardness, coldness, smoothness, etc.: a brow of marble.

something lacking in warmth or feeling.

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

marbles, (used with a singular verb) 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.

marbles, Slang. normal rational faculties; sanity; wits; common sense: to have all one's marbles; to lose one's marbles.

adjective

consisting or made of marble.

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

lacking in warmth, compassion, or sympathy: marble heart.

of variegated or mottled color.

verb (used with object), mar·bled, mar·bling.

to color or stain like variegated marble.

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

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

Related formsmar·bler, nounun·mar·bled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for marbling

smear, streak, stipple, speck, soil, splotch, blot, speckle, tarnish, splash, stud, spatter, dapple, pimple, sully, stripe, besmirch, blotch, taint, fleck

Examples from the Web for marbling

Historical Examples of marbling

For marbling books or paper, dissolve four ounces of gum arabac in two quarts of water, and pour it into a broad vessel.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
The right point has been reached when the marbling is distributed evenly.
The Handbook of Soap Manufacture
W. H. Simmons
The above outlines will also suffice for the marbling section of the manual.
Graining and Marbling
Frederick Maire
This is to be placed, while marbling, immediately to the left of the first trough.
The Progress of the Marbling Art
Josef Halfer
The table upon which marbling is to be executed must be firm and immovable.
The Progress of the Marbling Art
Josef Halfer

British Dictionary definitions for marbling

marbling

noun

a mottled effect or pattern resembling marble

such an effect obtained by transferring floating colours from a bath of gum solution

the streaks of fat in lean meat

marble

noun

a hard crystalline metamorphic rock resulting from the recrystallization of a limestone: takes a high polish and is used for building and sculpture
(as modifier)a marble bust Related adjective: marmoreal

a block or work of art of marble

a small round glass or stone ball used in playing marbles

make one's marble good Australian and NZ informal to succeed or do the right thing

pass in one's marble Australian informal to die

verb

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

adjective

cold, hard, or unresponsive

white like some kinds of marble

Word Origin for marble

C12: via Old French from Latin marmor, from Greek marmaros, related to Greek marmairein to gleam

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

Word Origin and History for marbling

marble

adj.

late 14c., "of marble," from marble (n.). Meaning "mottled like marble" is mid-15c. Marble cake is attested from 1864.

marble

1590s (implied in marbled), "to give (something) the appearance of marble," from marble (n.). Related: Marbling.

marble

type of stone much used in sculpture, monuments, etc., early 14c., by dissimilation from marbra (mid-12c.), from Old French marbre (which itself underwent dissimilation of 2nd -r- to -l- in 14c.; marbre persisted in English into early 15c.), from Latin marmor, from or cognate with Greek marmaros "marble, gleaming stone," of unknown origin, perhaps originally an adjective meaning "sparkling," which would connect it with marmairein "to shine." The Latin word was taken directly into Old English as marma. German Marmor is restored Latin from Old High German marmul. Meaning "little balls of marble used in a children's game" is attested from 1690s.

marbling in Science

marble

[mär′bəl]

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.

Idioms and Phrases with marbling

marble

see have all one's buttons (marbles).