1
a
: limestone that is more or less crystallized by metamorphism, that ranges from granular to compact in texture, that is capable of taking a high polish, and that is used especially in architecture and sculpture
b
: something (such as a piece of sculpture) composed of or made from marble
c
: something suggesting marble (as in hardness, coldness, or smoothness)
a heart of marble
2
a
: a little ball made of a hard substance (such as glass) and used in various games
b
marbles plural in form but singular in construction
: any of several games played with these little balls
c
marbles plural
: the rewards to be won in competition especially for a championship
—used in the phrase all the marbles
a game being played for all the marbles
3
: marbling
4
marbles plural
: elements of common sense
marble
adjective
marbled; marbling
ˈmär-b(ə-)liŋ
: to give a veined or mottled appearance to
marble the edges of a book
Cite this Entry
“Marble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marble. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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