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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Marble \Mar"ble\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Marbled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Marbling}.] [Cf. F. marbrer. See {Marble}, n.]
To stain or vein like marble; to variegate in color; as, to
marble the edges of a book, or the surface of paper.
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Marble \Mar"ble\ (m[aum]r"b'l), n. [OE. marbel, marbre, F.
marbre, L. marmor, fr. Gr. ma`rmaros, fr. marmai`rein 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.
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Note:

{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.
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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.
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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.
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Note: 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.
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Marble \Mar"ble\, a.
1. Made of, or resembling, marble; as, a marble mantel;
marble paper.
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2. Cold; hard; unfeeling; as, a marble breast or heart.
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