Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Marble
Mar′ble
(mär′b’l)
, Noun.
[OE.
marbel
, marbre
, F. marbre
, L. marmor
, fr. Gr. μάρμαρος
, fr. μαρμαίρειν
to sparkle, flash. Cf. Marmoreal
.] 1.
A massive, compact limestone; a variety of calcite, capable of being polished and used for architectural and ornamental purposes. The color varies from white to black, being sometimes yellow, red, and green, and frequently beautifully veined or clouded. The name is also given to other rocks of like use and appearance, as serpentine or verd antique marble, and less properly to polished porphyry, granite, etc.
☞
Breccia marble
consists of limestone fragments cemented together. – Ruin marble
, when polished, shows forms resembling ruins, due to disseminated iron oxide. – Shell marble
contains fossil shells. – Statuary marble
is a pure, white, fine-grained kind, including Parian (from Paros) and Carrara marble. If coarsely granular it is called saccharoidal. 2.
A thing made of, or resembling, marble, as a work of art, or record, in marble; or, in the plural, a collection of such works;
as, the Arundel or Arundelian
marbles
; the Elgin marbles
.3.
A little ball of glass, marble, porcelain, or of some other hard substance, used as a plaything by children; or, in the plural, a child’s game played with marbles.
☞ Marble is also much used in self-explaining compounds; when used figuratively in compounds it commonly means, hard, cold, destitute of compassion or feeling; as, marble-breasted, marble-faced, marble-hearted.
Mar′ble
,Adj.
1.
Made of, or resembling, marble;
as, a
marble
mantel; marble
paper.2.
Cold; hard; unfeeling;
as, a
. marble
breast or heartMar′ble
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Marbled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Marbling
.] To stain or vein like marble; to variegate in color;
as, to
. marble
the edges of a book, or the surface of paperWebster 1828 Edition
Marble
M`ARBLE
,Noun.
1.
The popular name of any species of calcarious stone or mineral, of a compact texture, and of a beautiful appearance, susceptible of a good polish. The varieties are numerous, and greatly diversified in color. Marble is limestone, or a stone which may be calcined to lime, a carbonate of lime; but limestone is a more general name, comprehending the calcarious stones of an inferior texture, as well as those which admit a fine polish. Marble is much used for statues, busts, pillars, chimney pieces, monuments, &c.2.
A little ball of marble or other stone,used by children in play.3.
A stone remarkable for some inscription or sculpture.Arundel marbles,
Arundelian marbles, marble pieces with a chronicle of the city of Athens inscribed on them; presented to the university of Oxford, by Thomas, earl of Arundel.
M`ARBLE
,Adj.