marble
pronunciation
How to pronounce marble in British English:
UK [ˈmɑːbl]
How to pronounce marble in American English:
US [ˈmɑːrbl]
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- Noun:
- a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
- a small ball of glass that is used in various games
- a sculpture carved from marble
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- Verb:
- paint or stain like marble
Word Origin
- marble
- marble: [12] Greek mármaros, a word of unknown origin, denoted to begin with ‘any hard stone’, but association with the verb marmaírein ‘shine’ led to a particular application to ‘marble’. Latin took it over as marmor, and it passed into Old French as marbre. Here, by a process known as dissimilation, in which one of two similar sounds is replaced by a different one, marbre became marble – whence English marble. The use of the word for the little ball with which the game of ‘marbles’ is played dates from the late 17th century.
- marble (n.)
- type of stone much used in sculpture, monuments, etc., early 14c., by dissimilation from marbra (mid-12c.), from Old French marbre (which itself underwent dissimilation of 2nd -r- to -l- in 14c.; marbre persisted in English into early 15c.), from Latin marmor, from or cognate with Greek marmaros "marble, gleaming stone," of unknown origin, perhaps originally an adjective meaning "sparkling," which would connect it with marmairein "to shine." The Latin word was taken directly into Old English as marma. German Marmor is restored Latin from Old High German marmul. Meaning "little balls of marble used in a children's game" is attested from 1690s.
- marble (adj.)
- late 14c., "of marble," from marble (n.). Meaning "mottled like marble" is mid-15c. Marble cake is attested from 1864.
- marble (v.)
- 1590s (implied in marbled), "to give (something) the appearance of marble," from marble (n.). Related: Marbling.
Synonym
Example
- 1. Inflatable mattresses and sleeping bags dot the grand marble foyers .
- 2. And frankly people justliked the ideaof the all white marble look .
- 3. Another significant discovery was withering of the monument 's white marble and red sandstone structure .
- 4. Surfaces with same or similar textures like fireplace marble tiles and drywall usually look more visually appealing .
- 5. Natural materials in the living areas and bathrooms include travertine stone , marble and timber .