marble
Marble (noun) means a hard, crystalline rock, often streaked with color, prized for sculpture and building. Example: “The statue was carved from a single block of white marble.”
How to use marble
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe polished stone, the childhood toy, or the fat-streaked pattern in meat.
"Lose your marbles" is an idiom meaning to lose one's sanity, not literal marbles.
Word forms
more marble comparative, marbled past tense, marbles plural, Marbles plural, marbles singular, most marble superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The statue was carved from a single block of white _____.
Etymology
From Old French marbre, from Latin marmor, from Greek mármaros — possibly related to a Greek word meaning "gleaming."
Related words
Rhymes for marble
See all rhymes for marble →Frequently asked questions
What does “marble” mean?
The word “marble” means a hard, crystalline rock, often streaked with color, prized for sculpture and building. In plain terms, the polished stone, the childhood toy, or the fat-streaked pattern in meat.
How do you pronounce “marble”?
“Marble” is pronounced MAH-buhl (/ˈmɑɹ.bəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “marble” in a sentence?
Here is “marble” used in a sentence: “The statue was carved from a single block of white marble.”
What part of speech is “marble”?
Depending on how it is used, “marble” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “marble” come from?
The word “marble” comes from Latin. From Old French marbre, from Latin marmor, from Greek mármaros — possibly related to a Greek word meaning "gleaming.".
Is “marble” a common word?
“Marble” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “marble” have?
“Marble” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hard, crystalline rock, often streaked with color, prized for sculpture and building.
What is the difference between marble and granite?
Both are hard rocks used in building, but marble is a crystalline stone often streaked with color and prized for sculpture, while granite is formed from visible interlocking mineral grains. Marble is softer and more prone to scratching and staining, whereas granite is harder and more resistant to wear.