hallmark
/ˈhɔːlmɑːk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɔːlmɑːrk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhȯl-ˌmärk/ (ame, mw) · /ˈhɔːl.mɑːk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɑːl.mɑːrk/ (ame, ipa)
hallmark — noun
- hallmarksingular
- hallmarksplural
1. a quality, habit, or way of doing things that is so closely linked to a particul
a quality, habit, or way of doing things that is so closely linked to a particular person, group, or thing that it helps define who or what they are
Mei-Lin's cooking shows the hallmark of a trained chef: balanced, carefully seasoned dishes.
noun phrase: hallmark of + [person]
Excellent after-sales support became the hallmark of the Watanabe family's electronics company.
collocation: become the hallmark of
Simple, bold brushstrokes are a hallmark of Tomás's landscape paintings.
Using humour to examine difficult topics is a hallmark of Dmitri's newspaper columns.
Transparency and honesty have long been hallmarks of the charity's work with local communities.
- characteristic
more neutral and general; does not carry the strong association of 'defining feature'
- trademark
more informal; often used for a person's distinctive style or behaviour
- trait
used mainly for personality or genetic characteristics, not for products or organisations
用法筆記
The phrase 'a/the hallmark of + noun' is the most common pattern; the noun after 'of' identifies the person, group, or thing whose defining quality is described.
常見錯誤
2. a small official stamp placed on items made from precious metals such as gold, s
a small official stamp placed on items made from precious metals such as gold, silver, or platinum to prove their quality, purity, and where they were made
Olga checked the hallmark inside her gold ring band to confirm its purity.
verb + hallmark: check + hallmark
Hassan's grandmother left him silver spoons, each with a clear hallmark from a London office.
preposition: hallmark from [office]
The shopkeeper showed the hallmark on the bracelet and said it was from the 1800s.
Kenji examined the antique teapot and found a small hallmark from 1920 near its handle.
The museum curator used a lens to read the hallmark on the medieval gold chalice.
- assay mark
more technical; refers specifically to the mark from an assay office that confirms metal quality
- stamp
broader; can refer to any stamped mark, not only on precious metals
用法筆記
The hallmark is typically found on the inside of rings, the underside of silverware, or on a small tag. Hallmark designs vary by country and historical period.
hallmark — verb
- hallmarkpresent simple I / you / we / they
- hallmarks3rd person singular
- hallmarking-ing form
- hallmarkedpast simple
1. to stamp an official mark onto items made from precious metals, confirming their
to stamp an official mark onto items made from precious metals, confirming their quality and purity through an approved system
The goldsmith hallmarked the necklace clasp to show its 18-carat purity.
active voice: goldsmith + hallmarked + object
In 1800s Birmingham, silver teaspoons were hallmarked at the local office before being sold.
passive: be hallmarked at [location]
Diego sent his gold rings to be hallmarked by the official testing laboratory.
The Lopez family has hallmarked every piece of silverware in their workshop for three generations.
文法句型
hallmark + object
be hallmarked + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice ('was hallmarked', 'been hallmarked') when describing manufactured or historical items. Particularly common in British English contexts.