mark

n. a small area of dirt, a scratch, or a line on a surface.

n. a visible impression or trace on a surface, such as a stain, scratch, or scar.

“There was a dark coffee mark on the white carpet.”

“The removalists were careful, yet they still left a faint scuff mark on the hardwood floor near the entrance.”

n. a number or letter that shows how well you did on a test or school work.

n. a unit of evaluation representing the proficiency or score achieved in an examination or assignment.

“She was very happy because she got a high mark in her English exam.”

“Students who fail to meet the minimum mark required for the module must attend a mandatory review session before the final assessment.”

British English

n. a target that you try to hit when shooting or throwing.

n. a target or goal, often used figuratively to describe a level of accuracy or success.

“The arrow hit the mark exactly in the center.”

“The CEO's speech was well-received, but critics argued his financial projections were wide of the mark.”

n. a person who is chosen to be tricked or cheated by a criminal.

n. the intended victim of a swindle, scam, or confidence trick.

“The con artist spent weeks watching the mark before making a move.”

“The pickpockets operated in pairs, with one distracting the mark while the other reached for the wallet.”

Informal · Slang

v. to write or put a sign on something so you can recognize it.

v. to put a visible sign or character on an object for identification or information.

“Please mark your luggage with your name and phone number.”

“The archaeologists carefully marked each fragment with a unique code before transporting them to the laboratory for analysis.”

v. to look at a student's work and give it a score or correct the mistakes.

v. to evaluate and correct written work, assigning a grade or score.

“The teacher stayed late to mark the history essays.”

“The professor spent the entire weekend marking final examinations to ensure the results were posted before the holiday break.”

British English

v. to show that an event is important by doing something special.

v. to acknowledge or celebrate a significant event or anniversary; to serve as a sign of something.

“A parade was held to mark the city's 100th birthday.”

“The signing of the treaty marks a significant turning point in the diplomatic relations between the two nations.”

v. to stay close to an opponent in a game to stop them from getting the ball.

v. to stay close to an opposing player to prevent them from receiving the ball or playing effectively.

“The defender was told to mark the star striker very closely.”

“The coach instructed the midfielders to mark their opponents tightly to disrupt the flow of the visiting team's passing game.”

v. to spoil the look of something by scratching it or making it dirty.

v. to spoil the appearance of a surface by creating an unwanted trace or blemish.

“Be careful not to mark the table with your heavy boots.”

“The soft lead of the pencil easily marked the delicate vellum, requiring the artist to work with extreme precision.”

n. a number on a gas oven that shows how hot it is.

n. a specific setting on a gas oven scale indicating the temperature.

“Bake the cake at gas mark 4 for forty-five minutes.”

“The recipe required the oven to be preheated to gas mark 6, which is approximately 200 degrees Celsius.”

British English