marble

marble [mär′bəl]

n.

[ME marble, marbre < OFr marbre < L marmor < Gr marmaros, white stone, orig. boulder (meaning infl. by marmairein, to shine) < IE base * mer-, to rub > MARE³]

1. a hard, crystalline or granular, metamorphic limestone, white or variously colored and sometimes streaked or mottled, which can take a high polish: it is much used in building and sculpture

2.

a) a piece or slab of this stone, used as a monument, inscribed record, etc.

b) a piece of sculpture in marble

3. anything resembling or suggesting marble in hardness, smoothness, coldness, coloration, etc.

4.

a) a little ball of stone, glass, or clay, used in games

b) [pl., with sing. v.] a children's game in which a marble is propelled by the thumb at other marbles, usually in an attempt to drive them out of a marked circle

5. a marbled pattern; marbling

6. [pl.] Slang mental soundness; sanity; wits [to lose one's marbles]

adj.

1. made or consisting of marble

2. like marble in some way; hard, cold, smooth, white, etc., or streaked, mottled, etc.

vt.

marbled, marbling

to stain or color (book edges) to look mottled or streaked like marble

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☆ go for all the marbles

Slang to take a great risk in the hope of a great gain

marbly

adj.