MARCH

v. & n. --v. 1 intr. (usu. foll. by away, off, out, etc.) walk in a military manner with a regular measured tread. 2 tr. (often foll. by away, on, off, etc.) cause to march or walk (marched the army to Moscow; marched him out of the room). 3 intr. a walk or proceed steadily, esp. across country. b (of events etc.) continue unrelentingly (time marches on). 4 intr. take part in a protest march. --n. 1 a the act or an instance of marching. b the uniform step of troops etc. (a slow march). 2 a long difficult walk. 3 a procession as a protest or demonstration. 4 (usu. foll. by of) progress or continuity (the march of events). 5 a a piece of music composed to accompany a march. b a composition of similar character and form. ømarching order Mil. equipment or a formation for marching. marching orders 1 Mil. the direction for troops to depart for war etc. 2 a dismissal (gave him his marching orders). march on 1 advance towards (a military objective). 2 proceed. march past n. the marching of troops past a saluting-point at a review. --v.intr. (of troops) carry out a march past. on the march 1 marching. 2 in steady progress. øømarcher n. [F marche (n.), marcher (v.), f. LL marcus hammer]