/ mɑːˈkiː; NAmE mɑːrˈkiː/ noun , adjective
■ noun
1.
a large tent used at social events
2.
( NAmE ) a covered entrance to a theatre, hotel, etc. often with a sign on or above it
■ adjective
[ only before noun ] ( especially NAmE ) ( especially in sport ) most important or most popular :
He is one of the marquee names in men's tennis.
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent.: from marquise , taken as plural and assimilated to -ee .