mar|chion|ess /mɑː r ʃəne s/ (marchionesses ) N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A marchioness is the wife of a marquis, or a woman with the same rank as a marquis.
ma rch-past (march-pasts ) also march past N‑COUNT When soldiers take part in a march-past , they march past an important person as part of a ceremonial occasion.
Mar|di Gras /mɑː r di grɑː / N‑UNCOUNT Mardi Gras is the Christian festival of Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent, which people in some places celebrate by wearing colourful costumes and dancing through the streets.
mare /meə r / (mares ) N‑COUNT A mare is an adult female horse.
mar|ga|rine /mɑː r dʒəriː n, [AM ] -r I n/ (margarines ) N‑VAR Margarine is a yellow substance made from vegetable oil and animal fats that is similar to butter. You spread it on bread or use it for cooking.
marge /mɑː r dʒ/ also marg N‑UNCOUNT Marge is the same as margarine . [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
mar|gin ◆◇◇ /mɑː r dʒ I n/ (margins )
1 N‑COUNT A margin is the difference between two amounts, especially the difference in the number of votes or points between the winner and the loser in an election or other contest. □ They could end up with a 50-point winning margin. □ The Sunday Times remains the brand leader by a huge margin.
2 N‑COUNT The margin of a written or printed page is the empty space at the side of the page. □ She added her comments in the margin.
3 N‑VAR If there is a margin for something in a situation, there is some freedom to choose what to do or decide how to do it. □ [+ for ] The money is collected in a straightforward way with little margin for error.
4 N‑COUNT The margin of a place or area is the extreme edge of it. □ …the low coastal plain along the western margin.
5 N‑PLURAL To be on the margins of a society, group, or activity means to be among the least typical or least important parts of it. □ Students have played an important role in the past, but for the moment, they're on the margins.
6 → see also profit margin COLLOCATIONS margin NOUN 1
adjective + margin : narrow, slender, slim, thin, tight; comfortable, considerable, wide; winning
verb + margin : cut, erode, narrow, reduce, shrink; extend, improve, stretch, widen SYNONYMS margin NOUN
1
gap: Britain needs to bridge the technology gap between academia and industry.
difference: The difference between the numbers is 8,532.
4
edge: Daniel stepped in front of her desk and sat down on its edge.
side: Coyne slid his legs over the side of the bed.
limit: … the city limits of Baghdad.
border: …the low coastal plain along the western margin.
mar|gin|al /mɑː r dʒ I n ə l/ (marginals )
1 ADJ If you describe something as marginal , you mean that it is small or not very important. □ This is a marginal improvement on October. □ The role of the opposition party proved marginal.
2 ADJ If you describe people as marginal , you mean that they are not involved in the main events or developments in society because they are poor or have no power. □ Andy Warhol made glamorous icons out of the most marginal people.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] In political elections, a marginal seat or constituency is one which is usually won or lost by only a few votes, and is therefore of great interest to politicians and journalists. [BRIT ] □ …the views of voters in five marginal seats. ● N‑COUNT A marginal is a marginal seat. [BRIT ] □ The votes in the marginals are those that really count.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Marginal activities, costs, or taxes are not the main part of a business or an economic system, but often make the difference between its success or failure, and are therefore important to control. [BUSINESS ] □ Consumer electronics has become a marginal business for the group.
mar|gin|al|ize /mɑː r dʒ I nəla I z/ (marginalizes , marginalizing , marginalized ) in BRIT, also use marginalise VERB To marginalize a group of people means to make them feel isolated and unimportant. □ [be V -ed] We've always been marginalized, exploited, and constantly threatened.
mar|gin|al|ly /mɑː r dʒ I nəli/ ADV [ADV with v] Marginally means to only a small extent. □ Sales last year were marginally higher than the year before. □ These cameras have increased only marginally in value over the past decade.
mari|gold /mæ r I goʊld/ (marigolds ) N‑VAR A marigold is a type of yellow or orange flower.
ma|ri|jua|na /mæ r I wɑː nə/ N‑UNCOUNT Marijuana is a drug which is made from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant, and which can be smoked.
ma|ri|na /məriː nə/ (marinas ) N‑COUNT A marina is a small harbour for small boats that are used for leisure.
mari|nade /mæ r I ne I d/ (marinades , marinading , marinaded )
1 N‑COUNT A marinade is a sauce of oil, vinegar, spices, and herbs, which you pour over meat or fish before you cook it, in order to add flavour, or to make the meat or fish softer.
2 VERB To marinade means the same as to marinate . □ [V n] Marinade the chicken breasts in the tandoori paste. □ [V ] Leave to marinade for 24 hours.
mari|nate /mæ r I ne I t/ (marinates , marinating , marinated ) VERB If you marinate meat or fish, or if it marinates , you keep it in a mixture of oil, vinegar, spices, and herbs, before cooking it, so that it can develop a special flavour. □ [V n] Marinate the chicken for at least 4 hours. □ [V ] Put it in a screw-top jar with French dressing and leave to marinate.