mark
♦♦ mark /m'ɑːrk/ (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] V n, V
If something marks a surface, or if the surface marks, the surface is damaged by marks or a mark.
Leather overshoes were put on the horses' hooves to stop them marking the turf...
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] V n quote, V n with n, V-ed
If you mark something with a particular word or symbol, you write that word or symbol on it.
The bank marks the check `certified'...
Mark the frame with your postcode...
For more details about these products, send a postcard marked HB/FF.
5 [N-COUNT] oft supp N
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] supp N
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] V n
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.
He was marking essays in his small study.
● marking [N-UNCOUNT]
For the rest of the lunchbreak I do my marking.
8 [N-COUNT] usu the supp N
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] N of n/-ing
The mark of something is the characteristic feature that enables you to recognize it.
The mark of a civilized society is that it looks after its weakest members.
= sign
10 [N-SING] a N of n
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.
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...
= indication, sign
11 [VERB] V n
If something marks a place or position, it shows where something else is or where it used to be.
A huge crater marks the spot where the explosion happened.
12 [VERB] V n
An event that marks a particular stage or point is a sign that something different is about to happen.
The announcement marks the end of an extraordinary period in European history...
13 [VERB] V n
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.
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to mark the occasion.
14 [VERB] V n as n
Something that marks someone as a particular type of person indicates that they are that type of person.
Her opposition to abortion and feminism mark her as a convinced traditionalist.
15 [VERB] V n
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; in AM, use guard, cover)
...Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who so effectively marked Michael Owen.
● marking [N-UNCOUNT]
They had stopped Ecuador from building up attacks with good marking.
16 [N-COUNT] usu num N
The mark was the unit of money that was used in Germany. In 2002 it was replaced by the euro.
The government gave 30 million marks for new school books.
[N-SING] the N
The mark was also used to refer to the German currency system.
The mark appreciated 12 per cent against the dollar.
17 [N-UNCOUNT] N num
Mark is used before a number to indicate a particular temperature level in a gas oven. (BRIT)
Set the oven at gas mark 4.
18 [N-UNCOUNT] N num
Mark is used before a number to indicate a particular version or model of a vehicle, machine, or device.
...his Mark II Ford Cortina.
19
see also marked, marking, check mark, check mark, exclamation mark,
full marks, high-water mark, question mark, question mark, scuff mark, stretch marks
20 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR on n
If someone or something leaves their mark or leaves a mark, they have a lasting effect on another person or thing.
Years of conditioning had left their mark on her, and she never felt inclined to talk to strange men.
21 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR on/in n
If you make your mark or make a mark, you become noticed or famous by doing something impressive or unusual.
She made her mark in the film industry in the 1960s.
22 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
If you are quick off the mark, you are quick to understand or respond to something. If you are slow off the mark, you are slow to understand or respond to something.
23 [CONVENTION]
On your marks in British English, or on your mark in American English, is a command given to runners at the beginning of a race in order to get them into the correct position to start.
On your marks-get set-go!
24 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
If something is off the mark, it is inaccurate or incorrect. If it is on the mark, it is accurate or correct.
Robinson didn't think the story was so far off the mark...
25 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
If something such as a claim or estimate is wide of the mark, it is incorrect or inaccurate.
That comparison isn't as wide of the mark as it seems.
26
to overstep the mark: see overstepblack mark (black marks)
[N-COUNT]
A black mark against someone is something bad that they have done or a bad quality that they have which affects the way people think about them.
There was one black mark against him.check mark (check marks)
[N-COUNT]
A check mark is a written mark like a V with the right side extended. It is used to show that something is correct or has been selected or dealt with. (AM; in BRIT, use tick)ex|cla|ma|tion mark (exclamation marks)
[N-COUNT]
An exclamation mark is the sign ! which is used in writing to show that a word, phrase, or sentence is an exclamation. (BRIT; in AM, use exclamation point)high-water mark
also high water mark
1 [N-SING] the N
The high-water mark is the level reached in a particular place by the sea at high tide or by a river in flood.
2 [N-SING] with supp, oft N of/for n
The high-water mark of a process is its highest or most successful stage of achievement.
This was almost certainly the high-water mark of her career...mark down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you mark something down, you write it down.
I tend to forget things unless I mark them down...
As he marks down the prices, he stops now and then to pack things into a large bag.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P as n
If you mark someone down as a particular type of person, especially a type that you do not like, you consider that they have the qualities which make them that type of person.
If he'd taken that five pounds, I would have marked him down as a greedy fool...
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V-ed P, also V n P
To mark an item down or mark its price down means to reduce its price.
A toy store has marked down the Sonic Hedgehog computer game...
Clothes are the best bargain, with many items marked down.
= reduce
≠ mark up
4 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P
If a teacher marks a student down, the teacher puts a lower grade on the student's work because of a mistake that has been made.
If you mark each other's work, they don't mark you down because then you can mark them down.mark off
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you mark off a piece or length of something, you make it separate, for example by putting a line on it or around it.
He used a rope to mark off the circle...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P from n, V n P as n
If a particular quality or feature marks someone or something off from other people or things, it is unusual and makes them obviously different.
Her clothes, of course, marked her off from a great number of the delegates at the conference...
The traditionalist influences within the navy marked it off as a rather old-fashioned institution.mark out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
To mark out an area or shape means to show where it begins and ends.
When planting seedlings I prefer to mark out the rows in advance.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P as adj/n, V n P from n, also V P n (not pron)
If a particular quality or feature marks someone or something out, it makes them obviously different from other people or things.
There were several things about that evening that marked it out as very unusual...
Her independence of spirit marked her out from her male fellow officers.mark up
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you mark something up, you increase its price.
You can sell it to them at a set wholesale price, allowing them to mark it up for retail...
A typical warehouse club marks up its goods by only 10 to 15 percent.
see also mark-up
= increase
≠ mark downpunc|tua|tion mark (punctuation marks)
[N-COUNT]
A punctuation mark is a symbol such as a full stop or period, comma, or question mark that you use to divide written words into sentences and clauses.ques|tion mark (question marks)
1 [N-COUNT]
A question mark is the punctuation mark ? which is used in writing at the end of a question.
2 [N-COUNT] oft N over n
If there is doubt or uncertainty about something, you can say that there is a question mark over it.
There are bound to be question marks over his future...quo|ta|tion mark (quotation marks)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Quotation marks are punctuation marks that are used in writing to show where speech or a quotation begins and ends. They are usually written or printed as "..." or, in Britain, `...'.
= inverted commasscuff mark (scuff marks)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Scuff marks are marks made on a smooth surface when something is rubbed against it.
Scuff marks from shoes are difficult to remove.
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] V n, V
If something marks a surface, or if the surface marks, the surface is damaged by marks or a mark.
Leather overshoes were put on the horses' hooves to stop them marking the turf...
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] V n quote, V n with n, V-ed
If you mark something with a particular word or symbol, you write that word or symbol on it.
The bank marks the check `certified'...
Mark the frame with your postcode...
For more details about these products, send a postcard marked HB/FF.
5 [N-COUNT] oft supp N
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] supp N
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] V n
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.
He was marking essays in his small study.
● marking [N-UNCOUNT]
For the rest of the lunchbreak I do my marking.
8 [N-COUNT] usu the supp N
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] N of n/-ing
The mark of something is the characteristic feature that enables you to recognize it.
The mark of a civilized society is that it looks after its weakest members.
= sign
10 [N-SING] a N of n
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.
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...
= indication, sign
11 [VERB] V n
If something marks a place or position, it shows where something else is or where it used to be.
A huge crater marks the spot where the explosion happened.
12 [VERB] V n
An event that marks a particular stage or point is a sign that something different is about to happen.
The announcement marks the end of an extraordinary period in European history...
13 [VERB] V n
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.
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to mark the occasion.
14 [VERB] V n as n
Something that marks someone as a particular type of person indicates that they are that type of person.
Her opposition to abortion and feminism mark her as a convinced traditionalist.
15 [VERB] V n
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; in AM, use guard, cover)
...Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who so effectively marked Michael Owen.
● marking [N-UNCOUNT]
They had stopped Ecuador from building up attacks with good marking.
16 [N-COUNT] usu num N
The mark was the unit of money that was used in Germany. In 2002 it was replaced by the euro.
The government gave 30 million marks for new school books.
[N-SING] the N
The mark was also used to refer to the German currency system.
The mark appreciated 12 per cent against the dollar.
17 [N-UNCOUNT] N num
Mark is used before a number to indicate a particular temperature level in a gas oven. (BRIT)
Set the oven at gas mark 4.
18 [N-UNCOUNT] N num
Mark is used before a number to indicate a particular version or model of a vehicle, machine, or device.
...his Mark II Ford Cortina.
19
see also marked, marking, check mark, check mark, exclamation mark,
full marks, high-water mark, question mark, question mark, scuff mark, stretch marks
20 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR on n
If someone or something leaves their mark or leaves a mark, they have a lasting effect on another person or thing.
Years of conditioning had left their mark on her, and she never felt inclined to talk to strange men.
21 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR on/in n
If you make your mark or make a mark, you become noticed or famous by doing something impressive or unusual.
She made her mark in the film industry in the 1960s.
22 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
If you are quick off the mark, you are quick to understand or respond to something. If you are slow off the mark, you are slow to understand or respond to something.
23 [CONVENTION]
On your marks in British English, or on your mark in American English, is a command given to runners at the beginning of a race in order to get them into the correct position to start.
On your marks-get set-go!
24 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
If something is off the mark, it is inaccurate or incorrect. If it is on the mark, it is accurate or correct.
Robinson didn't think the story was so far off the mark...
25 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
If something such as a claim or estimate is wide of the mark, it is incorrect or inaccurate.
That comparison isn't as wide of the mark as it seems.
26
to overstep the mark: see overstepblack mark (black marks)
[N-COUNT]
A black mark against someone is something bad that they have done or a bad quality that they have which affects the way people think about them.
There was one black mark against him.check mark (check marks)
[N-COUNT]
A check mark is a written mark like a V with the right side extended. It is used to show that something is correct or has been selected or dealt with. (AM; in BRIT, use tick)ex|cla|ma|tion mark (exclamation marks)
[N-COUNT]
An exclamation mark is the sign ! which is used in writing to show that a word, phrase, or sentence is an exclamation. (BRIT; in AM, use exclamation point)high-water mark
also high water mark
1 [N-SING] the N
The high-water mark is the level reached in a particular place by the sea at high tide or by a river in flood.
2 [N-SING] with supp, oft N of/for n
The high-water mark of a process is its highest or most successful stage of achievement.
This was almost certainly the high-water mark of her career...mark down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you mark something down, you write it down.
I tend to forget things unless I mark them down...
As he marks down the prices, he stops now and then to pack things into a large bag.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P as n
If you mark someone down as a particular type of person, especially a type that you do not like, you consider that they have the qualities which make them that type of person.
If he'd taken that five pounds, I would have marked him down as a greedy fool...
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V-ed P, also V n P
To mark an item down or mark its price down means to reduce its price.
A toy store has marked down the Sonic Hedgehog computer game...
Clothes are the best bargain, with many items marked down.
= reduce
≠ mark up
4 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P
If a teacher marks a student down, the teacher puts a lower grade on the student's work because of a mistake that has been made.
If you mark each other's work, they don't mark you down because then you can mark them down.mark off
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you mark off a piece or length of something, you make it separate, for example by putting a line on it or around it.
He used a rope to mark off the circle...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P from n, V n P as n
If a particular quality or feature marks someone or something off from other people or things, it is unusual and makes them obviously different.
Her clothes, of course, marked her off from a great number of the delegates at the conference...
The traditionalist influences within the navy marked it off as a rather old-fashioned institution.mark out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
To mark out an area or shape means to show where it begins and ends.
When planting seedlings I prefer to mark out the rows in advance.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P as adj/n, V n P from n, also V P n (not pron)
If a particular quality or feature marks someone or something out, it makes them obviously different from other people or things.
There were several things about that evening that marked it out as very unusual...
Her independence of spirit marked her out from her male fellow officers.mark up
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you mark something up, you increase its price.
You can sell it to them at a set wholesale price, allowing them to mark it up for retail...
A typical warehouse club marks up its goods by only 10 to 15 percent.
see also mark-up
= increase
≠ mark downpunc|tua|tion mark (punctuation marks)
[N-COUNT]
A punctuation mark is a symbol such as a full stop or period, comma, or question mark that you use to divide written words into sentences and clauses.ques|tion mark (question marks)
1 [N-COUNT]
A question mark is the punctuation mark ? which is used in writing at the end of a question.
2 [N-COUNT] oft N over n
If there is doubt or uncertainty about something, you can say that there is a question mark over it.
There are bound to be question marks over his future...quo|ta|tion mark (quotation marks)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Quotation marks are punctuation marks that are used in writing to show where speech or a quotation begins and ends. They are usually written or printed as "..." or, in Britain, `...'.
= inverted commasscuff mark (scuff marks)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Scuff marks are marks made on a smooth surface when something is rubbed against it.
Scuff marks from shoes are difficult to remove.