marble

¹

[ mahr-buhl ]

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. 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.
11. marbles, Slang. normal rational faculties; sanity; wits; common sense:

    to have all one's marbles; to lose one's marbles.

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)

, mar·bled, mar·bling.

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

[ mahr-buhl ]

noun

1. Alice, 1913–90, U.S. tennis player.

marble

/ 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 ) marmoreal

      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. make one's marble good informal.
   make one's marble good to succeed or do the right thing
5. pass in one's marble informal.
   pass in one's marble to die

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

/ 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.

Derived Forms

• ˈmarbly, adjective
• ˈmarbler, noun
• ˈmarbled, adjective

Other Words From

• marbler noun
• un·marbled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of marble¹

1150–1200; Middle English marbel, dissimilated variant of Old English marmel (in marmelstān marble stone) < Latin marmor < Greek mármaros, akin to marmaírein to sparkle

Word History and Origins

Origin of marble¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see have all one's buttons (marbles) .

Example Sentences

Rather than laying down layers of cells that then have to be incubated, they are using vegan-friendly mockups of muscle, fat, and blood to create complex patterns that mimic a well-marbled steak.

From Singularity Hub 

Fortunately, what is believed to be the last island marble butterfly population falls within the boundaries of the San Juan National Historic Park.

From Nautilus

They rested on the marble floors that rioters — some of whom carried Confederate flags — overran just a week before.

From Washington Post

To create The Veiled Son, for example, Jago used Danby marble from Vermont because, according to the artist, it was more suited to his intent.

From Ozy

Unless you’re into marble racing or Belarusian hockey, you’re probably having a hard time finding any sports to watch right now.

From Time

The academy has faux-marble halls, long mirrors, and gold-color-painted details.

From The Daily Beast

Wedged between two marble buildings at the lavishly designed Lincoln Center, sits a single white tent.

From The Daily Beast

He rests lavishly, depicted in a marble sarcophagus that stares up for eternity at the carved depictions of his life story.

From The Daily Beast

A civilian named Richard Gabrielle was trapped under a pile of marble, but alive during those last minutes.

From The Daily Beast

“Expansion favors everyone,” added the 79-year-old Tuscan, who started off as a bookkeeper in a marble firm in 1955.

From The Daily Beast

Half-fed men would dig for diamonds, and men sheltered by a crazy roof erect the marble walls of palaces.

From Project Gutenberg

Aristide, aglow with a sudden impudent inspiration, leant across the marble table.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a fine marble, much too hard to admit of minute carving, but taking a high polish.

From Project Gutenberg

The poor marble statue at his feet can no longer respond to the cries of her famishing child.

From Project Gutenberg

His splendid monument, with recumbent marble effigies of himself and his wife, occupies the east wall of the Hyde Chapel.

From Project Gutenberg