Search results for 'marble':

marble noun 1 a geol a hard, metamorphic rock formed of recrystallized limestone or dolomite, white when pure but usually mottled or streaked; b any such rock that can be highly polished, used in building and sculpture. 2 in children's games: a small hard ball, now usually made of glass, but originally made of marble. See also marbles. 3 a work of art, tombstone, tomb, slab or other object made of marble. verb (marbled, marbling) to stain, vein or paint something (especially paper) to resemble marble. marbled adj 1 mottled, or having irregular streaks of different colours, like marble. 2 made with or of marble • marbled halls. marbling noun 1 a marbled appearance or colouring, eg in meat with streaks of fat. 2 the practice or act of streaking, veining or painting (especially the endpapers or edges of a book) in imitation of marble.marbly adj.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c as marbre: French, from Latin marmor, from Greek marmaros, from marmairein to sparkle.