/ mɑːtʃ; NAmE mɑːrtʃ/ verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to walk with stiff regular steps like a soldier :
[ v ]
Soldiers were marching up and down outside the government buildings.
Quick march! (= the order to start marching)
[ vn ]
They marched 20 miles to reach the capital.
2.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to walk somewhere quickly in a determined way :
She marched over to me and demanded an apology.
3.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to force sb to walk somewhere with you :
The guards marched the prisoner away.
4.
[ v ] to walk through the streets in a large group in order to protest about sth
SYN demonstrate
•
IDIOMS
- get your marching orders
- give sb their marching orders
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- march on
- march on ...
■ noun
1.
[ C ] an organized walk by many people from one place to another, in order to protest about sth, or to express their opinions :
protest marches
to go on a march
—compare demonstration
2.
[ C ] an act of marching; a journey made by marching :
The army began their long march to the coast.
3.
[ sing. ] the ~ of sth the steady development or forward movement of sth :
the march of progress / technology / time
4.
[ C ] a piece of music written for marching to :
a funeral march
•
IDIOMS
- on the march
—more at steal verb
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from French marcher to walk (earlier to trample), of uncertain origin.