Definition

1. Noun:

   • A type of rock: A hard, crystalline metamorphic rock that can be polished to a high shine, often used in sculpture and architecture.
   • A small sphere: A small, usually glass ball used as a toy in children's games.
   • A sculpture: A work of art carved or made from marble.

2. Verb:

   • To give a marbled appearance: To paint, stain, or finish a surface (like paper or stone) with streaks or patterns resembling the veins in marble.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Rock):
  • The statue was carved from pure white marble.
  • The floors of the ancient temple were made of polished marble.
• Noun (Toy):
  • He won all my best marbles in the game.
  • The children were playing marbles on the sidewalk.
• Noun (Sculpture):
  • The museum has a fine collection of Greek marbles.
• Verb:
  • The bookbinder marbled the edges of the pages.
  • She learned how to marble paper using inks floating on water.

Advanced Usage

• "To lose one's marbles" (idiom): To become irrational, crazy, or senile.
  • I think the old man has lost his marbles.
• "Set in marble" / "Carved in marble": Used to describe something (like a rule or plan) that is fixed, permanent, and unchangeable.
  • These are just proposals; nothing is set in marble yet.

Variants and Related Words

• Marbled (adjective): Having a marbled pattern or appearance.
  • The marbled cover of the notebook was beautiful.
• Marbling (noun): The process of creating a marbled pattern, or the pattern itself.
  • The marbling on the steak indicated high quality.

Synonyms

• Noun (Rock): Stone, limestone (specific types vary).
• Noun (Toy): Aggie, taw, shooter (specific names for types of marbles).
• Verb: Vein, streak, mottle.

Related Phrases

• A game of marbles: The activity or contest of playing with marbles.
  • They spent the afternoon in a competitive game of marbles.
• Marble cake: A cake with a streaked, marbled appearance created by mixing light and dark batter.
  • She baked a delicious chocolate-vanilla marble cake.

Related Idioms

• Run out of marbles: Similar to "lose one's marbles," meaning to act foolishly or irrationally.
  • He must have run out of marbles to make a decision like that.

Noun

1. a sculpture carved from marble
2. a small ball of glass that is used in various games
3. a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material

Verb

1. paint or stain like marble
   • marble paper