n. & v.
--n.
1. limestone in a metamorphic crystalline (or granular) state, and capable of taking a polish, used in sculpture and architecture.
2 (often attrib.) a anything made of marble (a marble clock). b anything resembling marble in hardness, coldness, durability, etc. (her features were marble).
3 a a small ball of marble, glass, clay, etc., used as a toy. b (in pl.; treated as sing.) a game using these.
4 (in pl.) sl. one's mental faculties (he's lost his marbles).
5 (in pl.) a collection of sculptures (Elgin Marbles).
--v.tr.
1. (esp. as marbled adj.) stain or colour (paper, the edges of a book, soap, etc.) to look like variegated marble.
2 (as marbled adj.) (of meat) streaked with alternating layers of lean and fat.
Phrases and idioms:
marble cake a cake with a mottled appearance, made of light and dark sponge.
Derivatives:
marbly adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF marbre, marble, f. L marmor f. Gk marmaros shining stone