Pronunciations (9)
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/mɑːk/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/mɑɹk/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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/mäː(ɾ)k/
Pronunciation notes
- India
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/maːk/
Pronunciation notes
- India
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/maːrk/
Pronunciation notes
- India
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/mæɹk/
Pronunciation notes
- Ireland
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maːk
Pronunciation notes
- AU
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mɑː(ɹ)k
Pronunciation notes
- GB
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mɑɹk
Pronunciation notes
- US
Noun
Boundary, land within a boundary. A boundary; a border or frontier.
Usage- Obsolete
Boundary, land within a boundary. A boundary-post or fence.
Usage- Obsolete
Boundary, land within a boundary. A stone or post used to indicate position and guide travellers.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
I do remember a great thron in Yatton field near Bristow-way, against which Sir William Waller's men made a great fire and killed it. I think the stump remains, and was a mark for travellers.
Boundary, land within a boundary. The line indicating an athlete's starting-point.
Boundary, land within a boundary. A type of small region or principality.
Usage- Archaic
- Examples
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There dwells Théoden son of Thengel, King of the Mark of Rohan.
Boundary, land within a boundary. A common, or area of common land, especially among early Germanic peoples.
Usage- Historical
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. An omen; a symptomatic indicator of something.
- Examples
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depend upon it, you will speedily receive from me a letter of thanks for this as well as for every other mark of your regard during my stay in Hertfordshire.
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. A characteristic feature.
- Examples
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A good sense of manners is the mark of a true gentleman.
More examples (1)
there is surely a physiognomy, which those experienced and master mendicants observe, whereby they instantly discover a merciful aspect, and will single out a face, wherein they spy the signatures and marks of mercy.
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. A visible impression or sign; a blemish, scratch, or stain, whether accidental or intentional.
- Examples
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Then she put before her face her poor crushed hands, which bore on their whiteness the red mark of the Count's terrible grip[…].
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. A sign or brand on a person.
- Examples
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Doubt not of thine election, it is an immutable decree; a mark never to be defaced: you have been otherwise, you may and shall be.
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. A written character or sign.
- Examples
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The font wasn't able to render all the diacritical marks properly.
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. A stamp or other indication of provenance, quality etc.
- Examples
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With eggs, you need to check for the quality mark before you buy.
More examples (1)
But vvhat a vvretched, and diſconſolate Hermitage is that Houſe, vvhich is not viſited by thee [God], and vvhat a VVayue, and Stray is that Man, that hath not thy Markes vpon him?
The mark of the artisan is found upon the most ancient fabrics that have come to light.
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. Badge or sign of honour, rank, or official station.
- Examples
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In the official marks invested, you / Anon do meet the Senate.
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. Preeminence; high position.
Usage- Archaic
- Examples
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patricians of mark
a fellow of no mark
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. A characteristic or essential attribute; a differential.
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. An indication or sign used for reference or measurement.
- Examples
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I filled the bottle up to the 500 ml mark.
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. A specified level on a scale denoting gas-powered oven temperatures.
- Examples
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Now put the pastry in at 450 degrees, or mark 8.
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. One of the bits of leather or coloured bunting placed upon a sounding line at intervals of from two to five fathoms. (The unmarked fathoms are called “deeps”.)
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. Resemblance, likeness, image.
Usage- Obsolete
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. A particular design or make of an item (now usually with following numeral).
- Examples
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I am proud to present my patented travelator, mark two.
Characteristic, sign, indication for measurement; visible impression. The model number of a device; a device model.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
The Mark I system had poor radar, and the Mark II was too expensive; regardless, most antiaircraft direction remained the responsibility of the Mark I Eyeball (as the jocular phrase calls it): that is, the operator's eye.
Score, grade, or related judgement. A score for finding the correct answer, or other academic achievement; the sum of such points gained as out of a possible total.
Usage- Commonwealth usage
- Examples
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What mark did you get in your history test?
Score, grade, or related judgement. A score for a sporting achievement.
Score, grade, or related judgement. An official note that is added to a record kept about someone's behavior or performance.
- Examples
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A mark for tardiness or for absence is considered by most pupils a disgrace, and strenuous efforts are made to avoid such a mark.
Target or indicator. A target for shooting at with a projectile.
- Examples
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A skilfull archer ought first to know the marke he aimeth at, and then apply his hand, his bow, his string, his arrow and his motion accordingly.
More examples (1)
To give them an accurate eye and strength of arm, none under twenty-four years of age might shoot at any standing mark, except it was for a rover, and then he was to change his mark at every shot; and no person above that age might shoot at any mark whose distance was less than eleven score yards.
Target or indicator. The target or intended victim of a swindle, fixed game or con game; a gullible person.
Usage- Informal
- Examples
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Another common form of short con is the shell game. This scam has the advantage of giving the criminal the ability to rip off many marks all at one location.
[Xi Jinping] asked for Trump's personal attention to the issue, probably figuring he had identified his mark and wasn't going to let him get away.
More examples (1)
Dominic Di Grasso (Michael Imperioli): How are you gonna make it in life if you're this big a mark? Albie Di Grasso (Adam DiMarco): I'm not a mark.
Target or indicator. A professional wrestling fan who believes matches are legitimate contests rather than scripted or predetermined.
Attention.
- Examples
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But faults so countenanced, that the strong statutes Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop, as much in mock as mark
Attention. Attention, notice.
Usage- Archaic
- Examples
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His last comment is particularly worthy of mark.
Attention. Importance, noteworthiness. (Generally in postmodifier “of mark”.)
- Examples
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in the short story of western flavor he was a pioneer of mark, the founder of a genre: probably no other writer is so significant in his field.
Attention. Regard; respect.
Usage- Obsolete
The female genitals.
Usage- Obsolete
- Examples
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A mark saies my Lady. Let the mark haue a prick in't, to meate at, if it may be.
her thighs were still spread, and the mark lay fair for him, who, now kneeling between them, displayed to us a side-view of that fierce erect machine of his[…].
A catch of the ball directly from a kick of 10 metres or more without having been touched in transit, resulting in a free kick.
Limit or standard of action or fact.
- Examples
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to be within the mark
to come up to the mark
Verb
To put a mark on (something); to make (something) recognizable by a mark; to label or write on (something).
- Examples
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to mark a box or bale of merchandise
to mark clothing with one's name
More examples (2)
[I]f you drink much from a bottle marked “poison,” it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later.
Her son wrote badly, as if fearful of marking the page at all.
To leave a mark (often an undesirable or unwanted one) on (something).
- Examples
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See where this pencil has marked the paper.
The floor was marked with wine and blood.
More examples (2)
Those Wheels returning ne’er shall mark the Plain;
Advertisements are from time to time inserted, stating that slaves have escaped […] marked with the lash, branded with red-hot irons, the initials of their master’s name burned into their flesh;
To have a long-lasting negative impact on (someone or something).
Usage- Figurative
- Examples
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The death of his wife, followed by months of being alone, had marked him with guilt and shame and had left an unbreaking loneliness on him.
More examples (2)
What Uncle Marc had been through as a slave marked him, I’m sure, but I don’t know how much. How can you know what a man would be like if he had grown up unmarked by horror?
It is time the international community faced the reality: we have an unmanageable, unfair, distortionary global tax regime. It is a tax system that is pivotal in creating the increasing inequality that marks most advanced countries today […].
To create an indication of (a location).
- Examples
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She folded over the corner of the page to mark where she left off reading.
Some animals mark their territory by urinating.
To be an indication of (something); to show where (something) is located.
- Examples
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This monument marks the spot where Wolfe died.
A bell marked the end of visiting hours.
More examples (5)
And where the jolly Troop [of elves and fairies] had led the round The Grass unbidden rose, and mark’d the Ground:
She gave her an answer which marked her contempt, and instantly left the room,
[…] the cloth was laid for him […] and a plate laid thereon to mark that the table was retained,
[…] the lazy circling vultures marked the Hill of Execution, which was littered with human bones and scavenged by hyaenas.
Her forehead, lashed deep with lines, marked her fifty-six years.
To indicate (something) in writing or by other symbols.
- Examples
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Prices are marked on individual items.
In her Bible, the words of Christ were marked in red.
More examples (2)
[…] it was in the middle of May, on the sixteenth Day I think, as well as my poor wooden Calendar would reckon; for I markt all upon the Post still;
“What does the clock mark now?” “Eight minutes to seven.”
To create (a mark) on a surface.
- Examples
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[…] on opening it [the handkerchief], I saw an S mark’d in one of the corners.
I mark this cross of blood upon you, as a sign that I do it.
More examples (1)
[…] I was testing a stack of old whitewalls, dunking them in the water and marking a yellow chalk circle around each leak.
To celebrate or acknowledge (an event) through an action of some kind.
- Synonyms
- Examples
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The national holiday is marked by fireworks.
It was only four thirty but Gerald was marking his guests’ arrival with a Pimm’s, […]
To identify (someone as a particular type of person or as having a particular role).
Usage- of things
- Examples
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His courage and energy marked him as a leader.
[…] the son approached her with a cheerful eagerness which marked her as his peculiar object,
More examples (3)
The black dress, gold cross on the watch-chain, the hairless face, and the soft, black wideawake hat would have marked him as a holy man anywhere in all India.
His long thin falling-away cheekbones marked him as a member of either the Xhosa or Zulu tribe.
Enquiring about the movement of trains—even if you were a passenger on one—could mark you as a saboteur.
To assign (someone) to a particular category or class.
Usage- of people
- Examples
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The new captain would read the fitness report and mark him once and for all as an unreliable fool […]
To choose or intend (someone) for a particular end or purpose.
Usage- of people
- Examples
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When a king, hath once markt for his hate, / A man inferior; […] / […] euermore, he rakes vp in his brest, / Brands of quicke anger;
[…] I know now that humankind marks certain people for death.
To be a point in time or space at which something takes place; to accompany or be accompanied by (an event, action, etc.); to coincide with.
- Examples
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The creek marks the boundary between the two farms.
That summer marked the beginning of her obsession with cycling.
More examples (3)
[…] we hastened toward the bordering desert which marked our entrance into the realm of Tal Hajus.
Although the Second World War marked a turning away from inorganic chemicals as pesticides into the wonder world of the carbon molecule, a few of the old materials persist.
My grandfather’s short employ at the Ford Motor Company marked the only time any Stephanides has ever worked in the automobile industry.
To be typical or characteristic of (something).
- Synonyms
- Examples
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[…] he still retained that simple, unostentatious elegance, that marks the man of real fashion—
“Ah,” replied Roger Chillingworth, with that quietness which […] marked all his deportment,
More examples (1)
[…] Cyril’s attitude to his mother was marked by a certain benevolent negligence
To distinguish (one person or thing from another).
- Examples
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Indeed the smoke was such they scarce could mark Their friends from foes,
Despite their obvious differences these poets had a common view of life which marks them from their predecessors […]
More examples (1)
Each day was so like the day before, and Christmas Day, when it came, would not have anything to mark it from all the others.
To focus one's attention on (something or someone); to pay attention to, to take note of.
- Examples
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Mark my words: that boy’s up to no good.
More are men’s ends mark’d than their lives before:
More examples (4)
I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior Benedick: nobody marks you.
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
When they had passed out of the wood into the pasture-land beyond, Ruth once more turned to mark him.
“When Wolsey came down, I said, mark him, he’s a sharp fellow. […]”
To become aware of (something) through the physical senses.
Usage- Dated
- Examples
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Some of them [the Animals] coming forward near the place where I lay, gave me an opportunity of distinctly marking their Form.
He bent his eyes involuntarily upon the father as he spoke, and marked his uneasiness, for he coloured directly and turned his head away.
More examples (2)
1881, John Bascom, “Improvements in Language” in The Western: A Journal of Literature, Education, and Art, New Series, Volume 7, No. 6, December, 1881, p. 499, […] it is to be remembered that a poor speller is a poor pronouncer. The ear does not mark the sound any more exactly than the eye marks the letters.
Helm had a great horn, and soon it was marked that before he sallied forth he would blow a blast upon it that echoed in the Deep;
To hold (someone) in one's line of sight.
- Examples
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I marked my man, standing on the catwalk, and waited to throw [my javelin] till he started to climb inboard before they rammed.
To indicate the correctness of and give a score to (a school assignment, exam answers, etc.).
Usage- Canada
- UK usage
- Examples
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The teacher had to spend her weekend marking all the tests.
Under the proposals, an assurance is given that GBR (in the words of the plan) will not be marking its own homework.
To record that (someone) has a particular status.
- Examples
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to mark a student absent.
To keep account of; to enumerate and register; to keep score.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
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to mark the points in a game of billiards or a card game
Dan was to mark while the doctor and I played [billiards].
To follow a player not in possession of the ball when defending, to prevent them receiving a pass easily.
To catch the ball directly from a kick of 15 metres or more without having been touched in transit, resulting in a free kick.
To put a marker in the place of one's ball.
To sing softly, sometimes an octave lower than usual, in order to protect one's voice during a rehearsal.
Noun
A half pound, a traditional unit of mass equivalent to 226.8 g.
Usage- Historical
Similar half-pound units in other measurement systems, chiefly used for gold and silver.
Usage- Historical
- Examples
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As a reward for his poetry, Athelstan gave Egil two more gold rings weighing a mark each, along with an expensive cloak that the king himself had worn.
A half pound, a former English and Scottish currency equivalent to 13 shillings and fourpence and notionally equivalent to a mark of sterling silver.
Usage- Historical
- Examples
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George, on receiving it, instantly rose from the side of one of them, and said, in the hearing of them all, ‘I will bet a hundred merks that is Drummond.’
He had been made a royal counsellor, drawing a substantial annual salary of a hundred marks.
Other similar currencies notionally equal to a mark of silver or gold.
Usage- Historical
Noun
A former currency of Germany and West Germany.
Usage- Historical
- Examples
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Aus der Geschichte der menschlichen Dummheit. By Dr. Max Kemmerich. Price 3 mark 50 pfennige. Bavaria: Verlag Albert Langen, Munich.
Noun
a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
- Broader terms
- Examples
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she made good marks in algebra
grade A milk
More examples (1)
what was your score on your homework?
a distinguishing symbol
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the owner's mark was on all the sheep
a reference point to shoot at
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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his arrow hit the mark
a visible indication made on a surface
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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some previous reader had covered the pages with dozens of marks
paw prints were everywhere
the impression created by doing something unusual or extraordinary that people notice and remember
- Broader terms
- Examples
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it was in London that he made his mark
he left an indelible mark on the American theater
a symbol of disgrace or infamy
- Broader terms
formerly the basic unit of money in Germany
- Broader terms
a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
a written or printed symbol (as for punctuation)
- Broader terms
- Examples
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his answer was just a punctuation mark
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
- Synonyms
- Examples
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he showed signs of strain
they welcomed the signs of spring
an indication of damage
a marking that consists of lines that cross each other
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
something that exactly succeeds in achieving its goal
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the new advertising campaign was a bell ringer
scored a bull's eye
More examples (2)
hit the mark
the president's speech was a home run
Verb
attach a tag or label to
- Broader terms
- Examples
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label these bottles
designate as if by a mark
- Examples
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This sign marks the border
be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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His modesty distinguishes him from his peers
celebrate by some ceremony or observation
- Synonyms
- Examples
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The citizens mark the anniversary of the revolution with a march and a parade
make or leave a mark on
- Examples
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the scouts marked the trail
ash marked the believers' foreheads
to accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful
- Broader terms
- Examples
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He denounced the government action
She was stigmatized by society because she had a child out of wedlock
notice or perceive
- Broader terms
- Examples
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She noted that someone was following her
mark my words
mark with a scar
- Examples
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The skin disease scarred his face permanently
make small marks into the surface of
- Broader terms
- Examples
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score the clay before firing it
establish as the highest level or best performance
- Synonyms
- Examples
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set a record
make underscoring marks
- Synonyms
remove from a list
- Examples
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Cross the name of the dead person off the list
put a check mark on or near or next to
- Broader terms
- Examples
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Please check each name on the list
tick off the items
More examples (1)
mark off the units
assign a grade or rank to, according to one's evaluation
- Examples
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grade tests
score the SAT essays
More examples (1)
mark homework
insert punctuation marks into
- Synonyms
- Broader terms