▸ map out PHRASAL VERB If you map out something that you are intending to do, you work out in detail how you will do it. □ [V P n] I went home and mapped out my strategy. □ [V n P ] I cannot conceive of anybody writing a play by sitting down and mapping it out. □ [be V -ed P ] This whole plan has been most carefully mapped out.
ma|ple /me I p ə l/ (maples ) N‑VAR A maple or a maple tree is a tree with five-pointed leaves which turn bright red or gold in autumn. ● N‑VAR Maple is the wood of this tree. □ …a solid maple worktop.
ma |ple sy r|up N‑UNCOUNT Maple syrup is a sweet, sticky, brown liquid made from the sap of maple trees, that can be eaten with pancakes or used to make desserts.
mar /mɑː r / (mars , marring , marred ) VERB To mar something means to spoil or damage it. □ [V n] A number of problems marred the smooth running of this event.
Mar. Mar. is a written abbreviation for March .
mara|thon /mæ rəθən, [AM ] -θɒn/ (marathons )
1 N‑COUNT A marathon is a race in which people run a distance of 26 miles, which is about 42 km. □ …running in his first marathon. □ She has run the London marathon three times.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you use marathon to describe an event or task, you are emphasizing that it takes a long time and is very tiring. [EMPHASIS ] □ People make marathon journeys to buy glass here. □ …a marathon session of talks with government representatives.
ma|raud|er /mərɔː də r / (marauders ) N‑COUNT If you describe a group of people or animals as marauders , you mean they are unpleasant and dangerous, because they wander around looking for opportunities to steal or kill. [LITERARY ] □ They were raided by roaming bands of marauders.
ma|raud|ing /mərɔː d I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] If you talk about marauding groups of people or animals, you mean they are unpleasant and dangerous, because they wander around looking for opportunities to steal or kill. [LITERARY ] □ Marauding gangs of armed men have been looting food relief supplies.
mar|ble /mɑː r b ə l/ (marbles )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Marble is a type of very hard rock which feels cold when you touch it and which shines when it is cut and polished. Statues and parts of buildings are sometimes made of marble. □ The house has a superb staircase made from oak and marble.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Marbles are sculptures made of marble. □ …marbles and bronzes from the Golden Age of Athens.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Marbles is a children's game played with small balls, usually made of coloured glass. You roll a ball along the ground and try to hit an opponent's ball with it. □ On the far side of the street, two boys were playing marbles.
4 N‑COUNT A marble is one of the small balls used in the game of marbles.
mar|bled /mɑː r b ə ld/ ADJ [usu ADJ n, Also v-link ADJ with/in n] Something that is marbled has a pattern or colouring like that of marble. □ …green marbled soap.
march ◆◇◇ /mɑː r tʃ/ (marches , marching , marched )
1 VERB When soldiers march somewhere, or when a commanding officer marches them somewhere, they walk there with very regular steps, as a group. □ [V prep/adv] A Scottish battalion was marching down the street. □ [V n adv/prep] Captain Ramirez called them to attention and marched them off to the main camp. □ [V amount/n] We marched fifteen miles to Yadkin River. [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT March is also a noun. □ After a short march, the column entered the village.
2 VERB When a large group of people march for a cause, they walk somewhere together in order to express their ideas or to protest about something. □ [V prep/adv] The demonstrators then marched through the capital chanting slogans and demanding free elections. [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT March is also a noun. □ Organisers expect up to 300,000 protesters to join the march. ● march|er (marchers ) N‑COUNT □ Fights between police and marchers lasted for three hours.
3 VERB If you say that someone marches somewhere, you mean that they walk there quickly and in a determined way, for example because they are angry. □ [V prep/adv] He marched into the kitchen without knocking.
4 VERB If you march someone somewhere, you force them to walk there with you, for example by holding their arm tightly. □ [V n prep/adv] I marched him across the room, down the hall and out onto the doorstep.
5 N‑SING The march of something is its steady development or progress. □ It is easy to feel trampled by the relentless march of technology.
6 N‑COUNT A march is a piece of music with a regular rhythm that you can march to. □ A military band played Russian marches and folk tunes.
7 PHRASE If you give someone their marching orders , you tell them that you no longer want or need them, for example as your employee or as your lover. [BRIT ] □ What does it take for a woman to say 'that's enough' and give her man his marching orders? in AM, use walking papers
8 PHRASE If you steal a march on someone, you start doing something before they do it in order to gain an advantage over them. □ If its strategy succeeds, Mexico could even steal a march on its northern neighbour.
March (Marches ) N‑VAR March is the third month of the year in the Western calendar. □ I flew to Milan in early March. □ She was born in Austria on 6 March, 1920. □ The election could be held as early as next March.
ma rch|ing ba nd (marching bands ) N‑COUNT A marching band is a group of musicians who play music as they march along the street or march as part of a ceremony.