mark */*/*/

I UK [mɑː(r)k] / US [mɑrk] noun [countable]
Word forms "mark":
singular mark plural marks

1) an area of an unpleasant substance such as dirt or oil on the surface of something that is different in colour from the rest

There was a greasy mark on his shirt.

leave a mark (on something):

The sauce has left a mark on the cloth.

a) a damaged area on the surface of something

a burn/scorch/bite/scuff/scratch mark:

There were burn marks on her hands.

b) an area of colour on something such as a person's or animal's skin that is different in colour from the rest

The male bird has a white mark on its breast.

2)

a) British a score in the form of a number, percentage, or letter that a teacher gives a student's work. The American word is grade

My worst mark was a D.

mark for/in:

What were his marks for the last test?

give someone/get a high/low/good/poor mark:

You can't afford to get another low mark in Spanish.

top marks (= the highest mark):

She got top marks for history.

b) a score that a judge gives a performance in a competition

••

See:

full marks, pass mark

3) a particular level, stage, total etc that something reaches

the halfway mark:

Chicago was the halfway mark on our trip across the country.

reach a mark:

Average earnings have not yet reached the £25,000 mark.

4)

a) a printed or written symbol that is not a letter or a number

The mark above the vowel changes its sound.

Put a mark by the names of the most interesting candidates.

b) the symbol X that someone who does not know how to write puts instead of their name on a document

5) something that shows that a person or thing has a particular quality

mark of:

The mark of a good film is that it leaves you talking about it.

a mark of respect:

The race was postponed as a mark of respect.

6) the unit of money used in Germany before the euro

7) an official sign on something that shows who made it, who it belongs to, or that it is of a particular standard or quality

carry a mark (= have a mark on it):

We suggest you only buy toys that carry the safety mark.

8) the place that you try to hit

find/hit your mark:

His third shot found its mark.

miss your mark:

The bullet missed its mark, embedding itself in a tree.

•

be quick/slow off the mark — informal to react quickly/slowly so that you get/lose an advantage

Some companies have been quicker off the mark than others.

close to/near the mark — almost correct

His guess was very close to the mark.

hit/miss the mark — to achieve/not achieve the result that you intended

Robin knew his comment had hit the mark.

leave your/a mark (on) — to have a very strong and noticeable effect on someone or something, usually a bad one that lasts for a long time

Years of war have left their mark on these pretty islands.

make your/a mark (on something) — to change something, or to do something important, so that people notice and remember you

He's only been here four days but he's already made his mark.

Mark 1/2/3 etc — a type of vehicle, machine etc with slightly different features from those of an earlier or later type that has the same name and is made by the same company; British a particular level of heat produced by a gas oven

Like the Mark 3, the Mark 4 has a luxury interior.

Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 5.

- not up to the mark

- on the mark

- on your marks

- stamp your mark on something

- wide of the mark

See:

overstep

II UK [mɑː(r)k] / US [mɑrk] verb
Word forms "mark":
present tense I/you/we/they mark he/she/it marks present participle marking past tense marked past participle marked

1)

a) [transitive] to make a mark on the surface of something so that its appearance is spoiled or damaged

be marked with something:

Her cheek was marked with scratches.

b) [intransitive] if something marks, its appearance becomes spoiled or damaged by a mark made on its surface

Shiny wooden surfaces tend to mark very easily.

2) [transitive] to write or draw words, letters, symbols etc on something for a particular purpose

We entered through a door marked "Private".

mark something with something:

Foods marked with a red star are included in the recipe section.

mark something on something:

His job is to mark lines on roads.

mark someone (as) absent/present:

Anyone who is late will be marked absent.

3) [intransitive/transitive] British to judge the quality of a student's work and write a mark on it

I spent the evening marking first-year essays.

4) [transitive] to show the position of something

A memorial plaque will mark the spot where he died.

A high stone wall marked the boundary of the Roscarrock estate.

5) [transitive] to show that something is happening

The book marked a change in direction for Scottish literature.

mark the start/end of something:

This tournament marks the official start of the season.

6) [transitive] to be an important or typical feature of someone or something

He maintained the humble attitude that has always marked his public appearances.

be marked by something:

Public gatherings were generally marked by restraint and control.

7) [transitive] to celebrate something

A ceremony was held to mark the occasion.

8) [transitive] to stay close to a member of the other team in a game such as football in order to prevent them from getting the ball or playing effectively

•

- mark my words

- mark time

- mark you

Phrasal verbs:

- mark as

- mark down

- mark down as

- mark off

- mark out

- mark up