Definition

Noun: 1. The pattern or appearance resembling marble: The characteristic streaks, veins, or clouding of color that resembles the surface of polished marble. 2. The intermixture of fat and lean in a cut of meat: The distribution of intramuscular fat within the muscle tissue, which contributes to flavor, juiciness, and tenderness.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to a pattern:
  • The book's endpapers had a beautiful blue marbling.
  • Artists sometimes create paper with intricate marbling for bookbinding.
• Referring to meat:
  • The high degree of marbling in that ribeye steak indicates it will be very flavorful.
  • Butchers grade beef based on factors like color, texture, and marbling.

Advanced Usage

• As a gerund or present participle ("marbling"): Can describe the action of creating a marbled pattern.
  • The process of marbling paper is a delicate art.
• In a descriptive sense: Used to describe something that has a similar variegated appearance.
  • The sunset sky had a marbling of pink and orange clouds.

Variants and Related Words

• Marble (verb): To give something a streaked or mottled appearance like marble.
  • She marbled the clay before shaping the vase.
• Marbled (adjective): Having a marbled appearance.
  • The library had marbled leather book covers.

Synonyms

• Veining: A pattern of lines or streaks.
• Streaking: Long, thin lines of a different color or texture.
• Clouding: A blurred or mottled effect.

Notes on Different Meanings

The two primary meanings are distinct: 1. The artistic/visual meaning (patterns on paper, stone, etc.) is more general. 2. The culinary meaning (fat in meat) is a specific, technical term used in butchery and food grading. Context always clarifies which meaning is intended.

Noun

1. the intermixture of fat and lean in a cut of meat