n.
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English mearcian; akin to Old High German marc ō n to mark, determine the boundaries of, Old English mearc boundary
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 a (1) : to fix or trace out the bounds or limits of (2) : to plot the course of : CHART b : to set apart by or as if by a line or boundary ― usually used with off
2 a (1) : to designate as if by a mark (2) : to make or leave a mark on (3) : to furnish with natural marks <wings mark ed with white> (4) : to label so as to indicate price or quality (5) : to make notations in or on b (1) : to make note of in writing : JOT < mark ing the date in his journal> (2) : to indicate by a mark or symbol < mark an accent> (3) : REGISTER , RECORD (4) : to determine the value of by means of marks or symbols : GRADE < mark term papers> c (1) : CHARACTERIZE , DISTINGUISH <the flamboyance that mark s her style> (2) : SIGNALIZE <this year mark s our 50th anniversary>
3 : to take notice of : OBSERVE < mark my words>
4 : to pick up (one's golf ball) from a putting green and substitute a marker
intransitive verb : to take careful notice
– mark time
1 : to keep the time of a marching step by moving the feet alternately without advancing
2 : to maintain a static state of readiness <the House was marking time while the Senate talked ― F. L. Paxson>