noun
Common
marc
mahk
Marc (noun) means the leftover pulp, skins, and seeds after grapes or other fruit have been pressed for juice. Example: “The farmer fed the leftover marc to his pigs.”
noun
1
The leftover pulp, skins, and seeds after grapes or other fruit have been pressed for juice.
"The farmer fed the leftover marc to his pigs."
"After pressing, the marc is often spread on the fields as fertiliser."
"The winery composts the marc left over from pressing."
2
A strong brandy distilled from grape marc.
"There were a few men in the café sitting with coffee and glasses of kirsch or marc on the tables."
— Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms (1929)
"He poured a small measure of marc to go with his coffee."
"The French restaurant offered a choice of marc or cognac after dinner."
"The fire was restoked and the army of wine-bottles gave way to a smaller phalanx of brandies, Armagnacs and Marcs, to offset the large bowls of coffee from which rose plumes of fragrance."
— Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur (1974)
"They finished the meal with a small glass of marc."
How to use marc
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the pressed grape residue left after winemaking, or the brandy distilled from it.
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Word forms
- Plural
- marcs
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The farmer fed the leftover _____ to his pigs.
Etymology
From Old French marc, related to marcher meaning "to trample" — a nod to how grapes were once crushed underfoot.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for marc
See all rhymes for marc →Frequently asked questions
What does “marc” mean?
The word “marc” means the leftover pulp, skins, and seeds after grapes or other fruit have been pressed for juice. In plain terms, either the pressed grape residue left after winemaking, or the brandy distilled from it.
How do you pronounce “marc”?
“Marc” is pronounced mahk (/mɑɹk/ in IPA).
How do you use “marc” in a sentence?
Here is “marc” used in a sentence: “The winery composts the marc left over from pressing.”
What part of speech is “marc”?
“Marc” is a noun.
Where does the word “marc” come from?
The word “marc” comes from Old French. From Old French marc, related to marcher meaning "to trample" — a nod to how grapes were once crushed underfoot.
Is “marc” a common word?
“Marc” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “marc” have?
“Marc” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the leftover pulp, skins, and seeds after grapes or other fruit have been pressed for juice.
What is the difference between marc and pomace?
Both words name the solid residue of skins, seeds, and pulp left after grapes or other fruit are pressed for juice. Pomace is the more common general term in English, while marc, borrowed from French, is used especially in winemaking and can also mean the brandy distilled from that residue.
What is the difference between marc and grappa?
Both are strong brandies distilled from the pressed grape solids left over after winemaking. Grappa is the Italian style of pomace brandy, while marc is the French term, which also names the pressed residue itself.
Is marc the same as ordinary brandy?
No. Ordinary grape brandy is distilled from finished wine, whereas marc is distilled from the leftover skins, seeds, and pulp that remain after grapes have been pressed. That different starting material gives marc its own distinct character.
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