ma|rine ◆◇◇ /məriː n/ (marines )
1 N‑COUNT A marine is a member of an armed force, for example the US Marine Corps or the Royal Marines, who is specially trained for military duties at sea as well as on land.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Marine is used to describe things relating to the sea or to the animals and plants that live in the sea. □ …breeding grounds for marine life. □ …research in marine biology.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Marine is used to describe things relating to ships and their movement at sea. □ …a solicitor specialising in marine law. □ …marine insurance claims.
mari|ner /mæ r I nə r / (mariners ) N‑COUNT A mariner is a sailor. [LITERARY ]
mari|on|ette /mæ riəne t/ (marionettes ) N‑COUNT A marionette is a puppet whose different parts you can move using strings or wires.
mari|tal /mæ r I t ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Marital is used to describe things relating to marriage. □ Caroline was keen to make her marital home in London. □ Her son had no marital problems.
ma ri|tal sta |tus N‑UNCOUNT Your marital status is whether you are married, single, or divorced. [FORMAL ] □ How well off you are in old age is largely determined by race, sex, and marital status.
mari|time /mæ r I ta I m/ ADJ [ADJ n] Maritime is used to describe things relating to the sea and to ships. □ …the largest maritime museum of its kind.
mar|jo|ram /mɑː r dʒərəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Marjoram is a kind of herb.
mark ◆◆◇ /mɑː r k/ (marks , marking , marked )
1 N‑COUNT A mark is a small area of something such as dirt that has accidentally got onto a surface or piece of clothing. □ The dogs are always rubbing against the wall and making dirty marks. □ A properly fitting bra should never leave red marks.
2 VERB If something marks a surface, or if the surface marks , the surface is damaged by marks or a mark. □ [V n] Leather overshoes were put on the horses' hooves to stop them marking the turf. □ [V ] I have to be more careful with the work tops, as wood marks easily.
3 N‑COUNT A mark is a written or printed symbol, for example a letter of the alphabet. □ He made marks with a pencil.
4 VERB If you mark something with a particular word or symbol, you write that word or symbol on it. □ [V n quote] The bank marks the check 'certified'. □ [V n + with ] Mark the frame with your postcode. □ [V -ed] For more details about these products, send a postcard marked HB/FF.
5 N‑COUNT A mark is a point that is given for a correct answer or for doing something well in an exam or competition. A mark can also be a written symbol such as a letter that indicates how good a student's or competitor's work or performance is. □ …a simple scoring device of marks out of 10, where '1' equates to 'Very poor performance'. □ He did well to get such a good mark.
6 N‑PLURAL If someone gets good or high marks for doing something, they have done it well. If they get poor or low marks , they have done it badly. □ You have to give her top marks for moral guts. □ His administration has earned low marks for its economic policies.
7 VERB When a teacher marks a student's work, the teacher decides how good it is and writes a number or letter on it to indicate this opinion. □ [V n] He was marking essays in his small study. ● mark|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ For the rest of the lunchbreak I do my marking.
8 N‑COUNT A particular mark is a particular number, point, or stage which has been reached or might be reached, especially a significant one. □ Unemployment is rapidly approaching the one million mark.
9 N‑COUNT The mark of something is the characteristic feature that enables you to recognize it. □ [+ of ] The mark of a civilized society is that it looks after its weakest members.
10 N‑SING If you say that a type of behaviour or an event is a mark of a particular quality, feeling, or situation, you mean it shows that that quality, feeling, or situation exists. □ [+ of ] It was a mark of his unfamiliarity with Hollywood that he didn't understand that an agent was paid out of his client's share.
11 VERB If something marks a place or position, it shows where something else is or where it used to be. □ [V n] A huge crater marks the spot where the explosion happened.
12 VERB An event that marks a particular stage or point is a sign that something different is about to happen. □ [V n] The announcement marks the end of an extraordinary period in European history.
13 VERB If you do something to mark an event or occasion, you do it to show that you are aware of the importance of the event or occasion. □ [V n] Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to mark the occasion.
14 VERB Something that marks someone as a particular type of person indicates that they are that type of person. □ [V n + as ] Her opposition to abortion and feminism mark her as a convinced traditionalist.
15 VERB In a team game, when a defender is marking an attacker, they are trying to stay close to the attacker and prevent them from getting the ball. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V n] Every player knows who to mark when we start a game. in AM, use guard , cover ● mark|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ They had stopped Ecuador from building up attacks with good marking.