marbling

American  

[mahr-bling] / ˈmɑr blɪŋ /

noun

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

2. an appearance like that of variegated marble.

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

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

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marbling British  

/ ˈmɑːblɪŋ /

noun

1. a mottled effect or pattern resembling marble

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

3. the streaks of fat in lean meat

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Etymology

Origin of marbling

First recorded in 1680–90; marble + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Turkey's home strip features a marbled pattern, inspired by the Turkish paper marbling art of Ebru.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Others included marbling using carrageen moss or jewels or gold to signify their intended owners’ wealth and status.

From Washington Post • Dec. 3, 2022

On May 15, Guilfoyle uploaded a video of herself standing over a smoking indoor grill, flipping thin cuts with little visible marbling over the flames.

From Salon • May 17, 2022

But not all of his descriptions land, like when a bus floor is “grooved pink plastic, with white marbling, like a cut of bacon.”

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2022

“Now we will add the cocoa to the rest of the batter and swirl it all around. That’s the marbling part. Maybe you want to do that?”

From "Louisiana's Way Home" by Kate DiCamillo