marble
marble definition
mar·ble (mär′bəl)
noun
- a hard, crystalline or granular, metamorphic limestone, white or variously colored and sometimes streaked or mottled, which can take a high polish: it is much used in building and sculpture
- a piece or slab of this stone, used as a monument, inscribed record, etc.
- a piece of sculpture in marble
- anything resembling or suggesting marble in hardness, smoothness, coldness, coloration, etc.
- a little ball of stone, glass, or clay, used in games
- a children's game in which a marble is propelled by the thumb at other marbles, usually in an attempt to drive them out of a marked circle
- a marbled pattern; marbling
- Slang mental soundness; sanity; wits to lose one's marbles
Etymology: ME marble, marbre < OFr marbre < L marmor < Gr marmaros, white stone, orig. boulder (meaning infl. by marmairein, to shine) < IE base *mer-, to rub > mare
adjective
- made or consisting of marble
- like marble in some way; hard, cold, smooth, white, etc., or streaked, mottled, etc.
Related Forms:
- marbly mar′·bly adjective
marble Idioms
go for all the marbles
☆Slang to take a great risk in the hope of a great gain
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