marble

IPA/ˈmɑːbl/
KK[mˈɑrbəl]IPA/ˈmɑːrbl/

marble — noun

  • marblesingular
  • marblesplural

1. a hard natural stone, usually white or light-coloured, with coloured veins or li

1.nounB1
Definition

a hard natural stone, usually white or light-coloured, with coloured veins or lines running through it, that people can smooth and shine by polishing and then use for statues, floors, kitchen tops, and building decorations

Example

Saira ran her hand over the cool, smooth marble of the kitchen counter.

uncountable: cool smooth marble

The palace floor was made of white marble brought from a distant mountain.

Common collocations
  • white marble
  • polished marble
  • marble statue
  • marble floor
  • marble countertop
  • marble column
  • carved from marble
  • made of marble
Synonyms
  • stone

    general term for any hard natural material; less specific than marble

  • alabaster

    a softer, often white stone with a similar polished look, less durable than marble

  • granite

    a much harder, speckled stone with a different grain pattern; less refined in appearance

Usage Note

Uncountable when referring to the material ('made of marble'). Countable when referring to a specific object made from it ('a Roman marble', meaning a marble statue).

Common Mistakes

The countertop is made by marble.
The countertop is made of marble.
After 'made', the preposition 'of' is used for the material.
I bought a marble.' (meaning a marble object)
I bought a marble statue.
'Marble' as a countable noun for an object is rare in everyday use; it is better to name the object.

2. a small round ball for children's games, typically made from coloured or clear g

2.nounB1
Definition

a small round ball for children's games, typically made from coloured or clear glass, that players roll or shoot along the ground

Example

Aoi dropped her favourite blue marble on the playground and it rolled away.

The children traded marbles in the schoolyard, comparing colours and sizes.

plural: marbles as a set/collection

Common collocations
  • glass marble
  • shoot a marble
  • roll a marble
  • trade marbles
  • collection of marbles
  • blue / red / green marble
  • cracked marble
Synonyms
  • glassie

    informal word for a glass marble, used mainly by children

  • taw

    a special large marble used as the shooter in the game; less common outside the game itself

Usage Note

Countable when referring to a single ball ('a marble'). The plural 'marbles' can refer to a set or collection of the balls, or to the game itself (see sense 3).

Common Mistakes

I have a marbles in my pocket.
I have a marble in my pocket.
Use the singular form for one ball.

3. a game in which players take turns shooting small glass balls across the ground,

3.nounB2
Definition

a game in which players take turns shooting small glass balls across the ground, trying to hit each other's marbles or knock them out of a marked area

Example

The older students taught the younger ones how to play marbles at break.

pattern: play marbles

Quan won five marbles from Adina in their game under the oak tree.

Common collocations
  • play marbles
  • a game of marbles
  • shoot marbles
  • win at marbles

Usage Note

Always used in the plural form 'marbles' even though it refers to one game. The most common pattern is 'play marbles'. You cannot say 'play marble' to mean the game.

Common Mistakes

Do you want to play marble with me?
Do you want to play marbles with me?
The name of the game is always 'marbles' (plural).
Idioms

lose one's marbles

idiom

to become crazy or mentally confused, especially as a result of old age

Grandfather keeps talking to the television — I think he is losing his marbles.

Anyone who tries to climb that wall in the rain must have lost their marbles.

all the marbles

idiom

all the prizes or rewards at stake in a competition, especially the most important one

This final match is for all the marbles — the winner takes the championship.

After months of preparation, the team knew the next race was for all the marbles.

marble — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all four words refer to natural rock materials, they differ in appearance, use, and hardness. 'Stone' is the broadest term — any hard, solid, non-metallic mineral material can be called stone. 'Marble' is a metamorphic rock prized for its elegant veins and ability to take a high polish, making it the top choice for statues and luxury buildings. 'Granite' is much harder and more speckled in appearance; it is commonly used for kitchen countertops and exterior walls but is rarely chosen for fine sculpture because it is difficult to carve in detail. 'Limestone' is softer and more porous, often a pale grey or beige without prominent veins — it was used for many ancient buildings but weathers more easily than marble. 'Alabaster' is a soft, translucent white stone that can be carved into delicate, lightweight objects but scratches easily and is not suitable for outdoor use. For example, Michelangelo carved his 'David' from marble, not granite or limestone, because marble's combination of polishability and workability was unmatched.

stone ↗granite ↗limestone ↗alabaster ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • made of marble
  • carved from marble
  • polished like marble

Prepositions

Etymology

Ancient GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'marble' entered English through Old French 'marbre', which came from Latin 'marmor'. The Latin term was borrowed from Ancient Greek 'μάρμαρος' (mármaros), meaning 'a crystalline rock' or 'a sparkling stone'. The Greek root 'μαρμαίρω' (marmaírō) means 'to flash, sparkle, or gleam' — a reference to the way polished marble catches and reflects light. The stone has been prized for sculpture and architecture since ancient times, and the word has been in English use since the 12th century. Over time, the French-derived spelling 'marbre' shifted to the modern 'marble'.