# Marco

/ˈmɑɹkoʊ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/marco
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. in the game Marco Polo

interjection · CEFR B1 · Informal

the word you shout in a swimming pool game to find other players.

For teachers: the call used by the 'seeker' in the aquatic game Marco Polo to elicit the response 'Polo' from other participants.

- The boy closed his eyes in the pool and shouted 'Marco' to hear where his friends were.
- In the middle of the crowded swimming pool, the child's cry of 'Marco' was immediately met by a chorus of 'Polo' from the other children.

### 2. historical unit of weight

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

an old unit of weight used in Spain and Portugal for gold and silver.

For teachers: a traditional Iberian unit of mass, typically approximately 230 grams, historically employed for weighing precious metals.

- The museum display showed an ancient silver bar weighing exactly one marco.
- The merchant's ledger from the sixteenth century recorded the transaction in marcos, reflecting the standard weight for silver trade at the time.

## Examples

- Marco is joining us for dinner tonight.
- The children spent the entire afternoon playing Marco Polo in the shallow end of the swimming pool.
- While the name Marco remains a staple of Mediterranean nomenclature, its global recognition is frequently reinforced by historical figures such as the Venetian explorer Marco Polo.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.