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Definition of mark verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

mark

verb
 
/mɑːk/
 
/mɑːrk/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they mark
 
/mɑːk/
 
/mɑːrk/
he / she / it marks
 
/mɑːks/
 
/mɑːrks/
past simple marked
 
/mɑːkt/
 
/mɑːrkt/
past participle marked
 
/mɑːkt/
 
/mɑːrkt/
-ing form marking
 
/ˈmɑːkɪŋ/
 
/ˈmɑːrkɪŋ/
Idioms Phrasal Verbs
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    write/draw

  1. [transitive] to write or draw a symbol, line, etc. on something in order to give information about it
    • mark something The flood level is marked by a white line on the wall.
    • mark A with B Items marked with an asterisk can be omitted.
    • mark B on A Prices are marked on the goods.
    • mark somebody/something + adj. The teacher marked her absent (= made a mark by her name to show that she was absent).
    • Why have you marked this wrong?
    • Do not open any mail marked ‘Confidential’.
    • mark something as something Certain words were marked as important.
    Extra Examples
    • Sorry, I should have marked that right.
    • Some of the crates were marked for export.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • clearly
    • carefully
    • indelibly
    preposition
    • as
    • for
    • in
    See full entry
  2. give mark/grade

  3. [transitive, intransitive] mark (something) (especially British English) to give marks to students’ work
    • I hate marking exam papers.
    • I spend at least six hours a week marking.
    • If you don't hand your homework in on time, I won't mark it.
    compare gradeTopics Educationb1
  4. damage

  5. [transitive, intransitive] mark (something) to make a mark on something in a way that damages it or makes it look less good; to become damaged or be made to look less good in this way
    • A large purple scar marked his cheek.
    • The surfaces are made from a material that doesn't mark.
    • The paperweight had fallen onto the desk, badly marking the surface.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • indelibly
    • permanently
    • deeply
    See full entry
  6. show position

  7. [transitive] to show the position of something synonym indicate
    • mark something Yellow arrows mark the way.
    • The cross marks the spot where the body was found.
    • be marked in/with something The route has been marked in red.
    • The boundary was marked with a dotted line.
    Extra Examples
    • All buildings are marked on the map.
    • My room was clearly marked on the plan.
    • She carefully marked where the screws were to go.
  8. celebrate

  9. [transitive] mark something to celebrate or officially remember an event that you consider to be important
    • a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the war
    • The event marked a milestone in the hotel's success story.
    Extra Examples
    • Members of the club officially marked the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
    • The wedding ceremony publicly marks the beginning of commitment to another through marriage.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • effectively
    • officially
    • publicly
    verb + mark
    • appear to
    • seem to
    See full entry
  10. show change

  11. [transitive] mark something to be a sign that something new is going to happen
    • This agreement marks the start of a new phase in international relations.
    • This speech may mark a change in government policy.
    • ‘Lyrical Ballads’ conveniently marks the beginning of nineteenth-century poetry.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • effectively
    • officially
    • publicly
    verb + mark
    • appear to
    • seem to
    See full entry
  12. give particular quality

  13. [transitive, usually passive] (formal) to give somebody/something a particular quality or character synonym characterize
    • (be) marked by something a life marked by suffering
    • The town is still deeply marked by the folk memory of the Depression.
    • be marked as something He was marked as an enemy of the poor.
    • mark something Christianity has indelibly marked the culture and consciousness of Europe.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • indelibly
    • permanently
    • deeply
    See full entry
  14. pay attention

  15. [transitive] (old-fashioned) used to tell somebody to pay careful attention to something
    • mark something There'll be trouble over this, mark my words.
    • mark what, how, etc… You mark what I say, John.
  16. in sport

  17. [transitive] mark somebody (British English) (in a team game) to stay close to an opponent in order to prevent them from getting the ball
    • Hughes was marking Taylor.
    • Our defence had him closely marked.
    compare guard (3)Topics Sports: ball and racket sportsc2 see also marking
  18. Word Originverb Old English mearc, gemerce (noun), mearcian (verb), of Germanic origin; from an Indo-European root shared by Latin margo ‘margin’.
Idioms
mark time
  1. to pass the time while you wait for something more interesting
    • I'm just marking time in this job—I'm hoping to get into journalism.
  2. (of soldiers) to make marching movements without moving forwards
mark you
  1. (especially British English, old-fashioned, informal) used to remind somebody of something they should consider in a particular case
    • She hasn't had much success yet. Mark you, she tries hard.
See mark in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee mark in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
sufficiently
adverb
 
 
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