march 1
/mahrch/ , v.i.
1. to walk with regular and measured tread, as soldiers on parade; advance in step in an organized body.
2. to walk in a stately, deliberate manner.
3. to go forward; advance; proceed: Time marches on.
v.t.
4. to cause to march.
5. march on , to march toward, as in protest or in preparation for confrontation or battle: The angry mob marched on the Bastille.
n.
6. the act or course of marching.
7. the distance covered in a single period of marching.
8. advance; progress; forward movement: the march of science.
9. a piece of music with a rhythm suited to accompany marching.
10. on the march , moving ahead; progressing; advancing: Automation is on the march.
11. steal a march on , to gain an advantage over, esp. secretly or slyly.
[ 1375-1425; late ME marchen march ( i ) er, OF marchier to tread, move markon presumably, to mark, pace out (a boundary); see MARK 1 ]
march 2
/mahrch/ , n.
1. a tract of land along a border of a country; frontier.
2. marches , the border districts between England and Scotland, or England and Wales.
v.i.
3. to touch at the border; border.
[ 1250-1300; ME marche gemearc, Goth marka boundary; see MARK 1 ]