marking

UK: /ˈmɑː^rkɪŋ/ US: (mär′king)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mark•ing  (mär′king), n. 

1. a mark, or a number or pattern of marks:
   birds with colorful markings.
2. the act of a person or thing that marks:
   the marking of papers.

• 1275–1325; Middle English; see mark¹, -ing¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

marking / ˈmɑːkɪŋ/ noun

1. a mark or series of marks
2. the arrangement of colours on an animal, plant, etc
3. assessment and correction of schoolchildren's or students' written work by teaching staff

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mark¹ /mɑrk/   n. [countable]

1. a visible impression on a surface, as a line or spot:
   had a mark on her face from the scratch.
2. a symbol used in writing or printing:
   a punctuation mark.
3. something that indicates something else;
   a token:
   to bow as a mark of respect.
4. a noticeable influence;
   imprint:
   The experience left its mark on her.
See make one's mark below.
5. something typical or characteristic of something else;
   a trait:
   a mark of nobility.
6. a device or symbol serving to identify, etc.:
   The peasant put his mark on the document.
7. trademark.
8. • a symbol used in rating a student's achievement;
     grade:
     Her mark was an A.
   • Often, marks. [plural] any evaluative rating:
     We gave him high marks for trying so hard.
9. an object or sign serving to indicate position, as a point reached on a scale:
   I finally reached the halfway mark of the book.
10. a standard of merit:
    His work was clearly not up to the mark.
11. a target;
    goal:
    to miss the mark.
12. • an object of cruel laughter:
      The short, pudgy boy was an easy mark for bullies.
    • the victim of a swindle:
      The banker was the mark for the con artists.
13. Sport the starting line in a race:
    "On your mark...get set...go!''

v. 

14. to be a distinguishing feature of:
    [~ + object] a day marked by sadness.
15. to make or put a mark or marks (on): [~ + object]
    She marked the wall with her greasy glove.
    [no object]
    That soft wood surface marks too easily.
16. to give a grade to:
    [~ + object] When will you mark the exams?
17. to serve as a sign or signal of;
    to indicate:
    [~ + object] That day marked the end of a career.
18. to label with indications of quality:
    [~ + object] to mark merchandise.
19. to form by or as if by marks:
    [~ + object] to mark out a plan of attack.
20. to designate by or as if by marks:
    [~ + object] He marked the sections that he wanted to delete.
21. to set apart beforehand:
    [~ + object] clearly marked for greatness.
22. to give attention to:
    [~ + object] Mark my words; she'll be famous one day.
23. Business mark down:
    • to reduce the price of: [~ + down + object]
      marked down the prices almost 30%.
      [~ + object + down]
      They had marked the prices down.
    • to make a note of in writing: [~ + down + object]
      We'd better mark down the sizes.
      [~ + object + down]
      We'd better mark them down.
24. mark off:
    • to mark the dimensions or boundaries of: [~ + off + object]
      marked off the parade route with stripes.
      [~ + object + off]
      They marked it off with yellow tape.
    • to write a line on or through some item: [~ + off + object]
      He marked off each name on the list.
      [~ + object + off]
      He marked them off one by one.
25. mark up:
    • to mar or ruin the appearance of with marks: [~ + up + object]
      Don't mark up the wall!
      [~ + object + up]
      Someone marked the painting up when they vandalized the museum.
    • to mark with notations or symbols: [~ + up + object]
      Teachers shouldn't mark up a student's paper too much.
      [~ + object + up]
      Don't mark it up with so much red ink!
    • Business to raise the price of: [~ + up + object]
      The store marked up its inventory.
      [~ + object + up]
      The store marked prices up almost 50%.

Idioms

26. Idioms beside the mark, not on the subject at hand;
    not relevant.
27. Idioms make one's mark, to achieve success:
    to make one's mark in show business.
28. Idioms mark time:
    • Idioms to function at a job without making progress or advancing:
      He was just marking time until retirement.
    • to move the feet one after the other as if marching but without moving forward.
29. Idioms wide of the mark, far from the target or one's aim:
    comments wide of the mark.

mark² /mɑrk/   n. [countable]

1. Currency the basic monetary unit of Germany and certain other countries.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mark¹  (märk), n. 

1. a visible impression or trace on something, as a line, cut, dent, stain, or bruise:
   a small mark on his arm.
2. a badge, brand, or other visible sign assumed or imposed:
   a mark of his noble rank.
3. a symbol used in writing or printing:
   a punctuation mark.
4. a sign, usually an X or cross, made instead of a signature by someone who does not know how or is unable to write his or her own name.
5. an affixed or impressed device, symbol, inscription, etc., serving to give information, identify, indicate origin or ownership, attest to character or comparative merit, or the like, as a trademark.
6. a sign, token, or indication:
   to bow as a mark of respect.
7. a symbol used in rating conduct, proficiency, attainment, etc., as of pupils in a school:
   good marks; bad marks.
8. something serving as an indication of position, as a landmark.
9. a recognized or required standard of quality, accomplishment, etc.;
   norm:
   His dissertation was below the mark.
10. distinction or importance;
    repute;
    note:
    a man of mark.
11. a distinctive trait or characteristic:
    the usual marks of a gentleman.
12. Military (usually cap.) [U.S. Mil.] a designation for an item of military equipment in production, used in combination with a numeral to indicate the order of adoption, and often abbreviated:
    a Mark-4 tank; an M-1 rifle.
13. an object aimed at;
    target:
    to aim at the mark.
14. an object or end desired or striven for;
    goal.
15. Slang Terms
    • an object of derision, scorn, manipulation, or the like:
      He was an easy mark for criticism.
    • the intended victim of a swindler, hustler, or the like:
      The cardsharps picked their marks from among the tourists on the cruise ship.
16. Sport [Track.] the starting line.
17. Sport [Boxing.] the middle of the stomach.
18. Sport [Lawn Bowling.] jack¹ (def. 17).
19. Sport [Bowling.] a strike or spare.
20. Nautical any of the distinctively marked points on a deep-sea lead line, occurring at levels of 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17, and 20 fathoms above the lead. Cf. deep (def. 35).
21. Medieval History, World History a tract of land that may have been held in common by a primitive or early medieval community of peasants in Germany.
22. World History Archaic or Hist. a boundary;
    frontier.
23. Idioms beside the mark, not pertinent;
    irrelevant.
24. Idioms bless or save the mark! (used as an exclamation of disapproval, contempt, impatience, etc.) Also, God bless or save the mark! 
25. Idioms make one's mark, to attain success or fame;
    achieve one's ambition:
    He set out to make his mark as a writer.
26. Sport on your mark or marks! (in calling the start of a race) take your places:
    On your mark! Get set! Go!
    Also, get ready!, ready! 
27. Idioms wide of the mark, far from the target or objective;
    inaccurate or irrelevant:
    My first guess was wide of the mark.

v.t. 

28. to be a distinguishing feature of:
    a day marked by rain.
29. to put a mark or marks on:
    to mark each box with an X.
30. to give a grade for;
    put a grade on:
    to mark the final exams.
31. Animal Behavior scent-mark (def. 2).
32. to furnish with figures, signs, tags, etc., to indicate price, quality, brand name, or the like:
    We marked all the books with prices.
33. to trace or form by or as if by marks (often fol. by out):
    to mark out a plan of attack.
34. to indicate or designate by or as if by marks:
    to mark passages to be memorized.
35. to single out;
    destine (often fol. by out):
    to be marked out for promotion.
36. to record, as a score.
37. to make manifest:
    to mark approval with a nod.
38. to give heed or attention to:
    Mark my words!
39. to notice or observe:
    to mark a change in the weather.

v.i. 

40. to take notice;
    give attention;
    consider.
41. Animal Behavior scent-mark (def. 1).
42. Business mark down, to reduce the price of:
    These towels have been marked down.
43. mark off, to mark the proper dimensions or boundaries of;
    separate:
    We marked off the limits of our lot with stakes.
44. Idioms mark time. See time (def. 45).
45. mark up:
    • to mar or deface with marks.
    • to mark with notations or symbols.
    • Business to fix the selling price of (an article) by adding to the seller's cost an amount to cover expenses and profit:
      to mark up dresses 50 percent.
    • Business to increase the selling price of.

• bef. 900; (noun, nominal) Middle English; Old English mearc mark, sign, banner, dividing line, borderland; cognate with German Mark borderland, unit of weight, Old Norse mǫrk forest (origin, originally, borderland), unit of weight, Gothic marka boundary, borderland, Latin margō margin; (verb, verbal) Middle English marken, Old English mearcian; cognate with Old Frisian merkia, Old High German marchōn, Old Norse marka to plan

Synonyms

• 10. eminence, consequence.
• 11. feature, stamp, print.
• 14. purpose, objective.
• 34. identify, label, tag.
• 37, 38. note.
• 39. eye, regard, spot.

mark²  (märk), n. 

1. Currency the monetary unit of Germany since 1871: originally a silver coin. Cf. Deutsche mark, ostmark, reichsmark. 
2. Currency the markka of Finland.
3. Currency Also, merk. a former silver coin of Scotland, equal to 13s. 4d.
4. Currency a former money of account of England, equal to 13s. 4d.
5. Currency a former coin of Estonia, the ¹⁄₁₀₀th part of a kroon: replaced by the sent after 1927.
6. Weights and Measures, Currency a former European unit of weight, esp. for gold and silver, generally equal to 8 ounces (249 grams).

• Gmc; see mark¹
• Medieval Latin marca
• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English marc unit of weight

Mark  (märk), n. 

1. Biographical one of the four Evangelists: traditionally believed to be the author of the second Gospel.
2. Religion the second Gospel:
   to read aloud from Mark.
3. King, [Arthurian Romance.] ruler of Cornwall, husband of Iseult and uncle of Sir Tristram.
4. Biographical Saint. See Marcus, Saint. 
5. a male given name, form of Marcus. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mark / mɑːk/ noun

1. a visible impression, stain, etc, on a surface, such as a spot or scratch
2. a sign, symbol, or other indication that distinguishes something
3. a cross or other symbol made instead of a signature
4. a written or printed sign or symbol, as for punctuation
5. a letter, number, or percentage used to grade academic work
6. a thing that indicates position or directs; marker
7. a desired or recognized standard: he is not up to the mark
8. an indication of some quality, feature, or prowess
9. quality or importance; note: a person of little mark
10. a target or goal
11. impression or influence
12. one of the temperature settings on a gas oven: gas mark 5
13. (often capital)(in trade names) model, brand, or type
14. a suitable victim, esp for swindling
15. one of the intervals distinctively marked on a sounding lead
    Compare deep21
16. another name for the jack17
17. an action in which a player standing inside his or her own 22m line catches a forward kick by an opponent and shouts "mark", thus becoming entitled to a free kick
18. a catch of the ball from a kick of at least 10 yards, after which a free kick is taken
19. the mark ⇒ the middle of the stomach at or above the line made by the boxer's trunks
20. (in medieval England and Germany) a piece of land held in common by the free men of a community
21. an obsolete word for frontier
22. make one's mark ⇒ to succeed or achieve recognition
23. on your mark, on your marks ⇒ a command given to runners in a race to prepare themselves at the starting line

verb

1. to make or receive (a visible impression, trace, or stain) on (a surface)
2. (transitive) to characterize or distinguish
3. often followed by off or out: to set boundaries or limits (on)
4. (transitive) to select, designate, or doom by or as if by a mark
5. (transitive) to put identifying or designating labels, stamps, etc, on, esp to indicate price
6. (transitive) to pay heed or attention to: mark my words
7. to observe; notice
8. to grade or evaluate (scholastic work)
9. to stay close to (an opponent) to hamper his or her play
10. to keep (score) in some games
11. mark time ⇒ to move the feet alternately as in marching but without advancing
12. to act in a mechanical and routine way
13. to halt progress temporarily, while awaiting developments

Etymology: Old English mearc mark; related to Old Norse mörk boundary land, Old High German marha boundary, Latin margō margin

mark / mɑːk/ noun

1. See Deutschmark, markka, Reichsmark, Ostmark
2. a former monetary unit and coin in England and Scotland worth two thirds of a pound sterling
3. a silver coin of Germany until 1924

Etymology: Old English marc unit of weight of precious metal, perhaps from the marks on metal bars; apparently of Germanic origin and related to mark¹