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a visible impression or trace on something, as a line, cut, dent, stain, or bruise:
a small mark on his arm.
a badge, brand, or other visible sign assumed or imposed:
a mark of his noble rank.
a symbol used in writing or printing:
a punctuation mark.
a sign, usually an X or cross, made instead of a signature by someone who does not know how or is unable to write his or her own name.
an affixed or impressed device, symbol, inscription, etc., serving to give information, identify, indicate origin or ownership, attest to character or comparative merit, or the like, as a trademark.
a sign, token, or indication:
to bow as a mark of respect.
a symbol used in rating conduct, proficiency, attainment, etc., as of pupils in a school:
good marks; bad marks.
something serving as an indication of position, as a landmark.
a recognized or required standard of quality, accomplishment, etc.; norm:
His dissertation was below the mark.
distinction or importance; repute; note:
a man of mark.
a distinctive trait or characteristic:
the usual marks of a gentleman.
(usually initial capital letter) U.S. Military. a designation for an item of military equipment in production, used in combination with a numeral to indicate the order of adoption, and often abbreviated:
a Mark-4 tank; an M-1 rifle.
an object aimed at; target:
to aim at the mark.
an object or end desired or striven for; goal.
Slang.

an object of derision, scorn, manipulation, or the like:
He was an easy mark for criticism.
the intended victim of a swindler, hustler, or the like:
The cardsharps picked their marks from among the tourists on the cruise ship.

Track. the starting line.
Boxing. the middle of the stomach.
Lawn Bowling. jack1 (def 17).
Bowling. a strike or spare.
Nautical. any of the distinctively marked points on a deep-sea lead line, occurring at levels of 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17, and 20 fathoms above the lead.
Compare deep (def 33).
a tract of land that may have been held in common by a primitive or early medieval community of peasants in Germany.
Archaic or History/Historical. a boundary; frontier.
to be a distinguishing feature of:
a day marked by rain.
to put a mark or marks on:
to mark each box with an X.
to give a grade for; put a grade on:
to mark the final exams.
scent-mark (def 2).
to furnish with figures, signs, tags, etc., to indicate price, quality, brand name, or the like:
We marked all the books with prices.
to trace or form by or as if by marks (often followed by out):
to mark out a plan of attack.
to indicate or designate by or as if by marks:
to mark passages to be memorized.
to single out; destine (often followed by out):
to be marked out for promotion.
to record, as a score.
to make manifest:
to mark approval with a nod.
to give heed or attention to:
Mark my words!
to notice or observe:
to mark a change in the weather.
to take notice; give attention; consider.
scent-mark (def 1).
mark down, to reduce the price of:
These towels have been marked down.
mark off, to mark the proper dimensions or boundaries of; separate:
We marked off the limits of our lot with stakes.
mark up,

to mar or deface with marks.
to mark with notations or symbols.
to fix the selling price of (an article) by adding to the seller’s cost an amount to cover expenses and profit:
to mark up dresses 50 percent.
to increase the selling price of.
to make corrections or changes to (written or printed text).
to indicate detailed instructions concerning the format, style, or structure for (a manuscript to be typeset, an electronic document, or a Web page).

beside the mark, not pertinent; irrelevant.
bless / save the mark!, (used as an exclamation of disapproval, contempt, impatience, etc.)
Also, God bless/save the mark!
make one’s mark, to attain success or fame; achieve one’s ambition:
He set out to make his mark as a writer.
mark time. time (def 55).
on your mark / marks!, (in calling the start of a race) take your places:
On your mark! Get set! Go!
Also, get ready! ready!
wide of the mark, far from the target or objective; inaccurate or irrelevant:
My first guess was wide of the mark.
the monetary unit of Germany from 1871 to 2002, when the euro was adopted: originally a silver coin.
Compare Deutsche mark, ostmark, reichsmark.
the markka of Finland.
Also, merk. a former silver coin of Scotland, equal to 13s. 4d.
a former money of account of England, equal to 13s. 4d.
a former coin of Estonia, the 1/100 part of a kroon: replaced by the sent after 1927.
a former European unit of weight, especially for gold and silver, generally equal to 8 ounces (249 grams).
one of the four Evangelists: traditionally believed to be the author of the second Gospel.
the second Gospel:
to read aloud from Mark.
King, Arthurian Romance. ruler of Cornwall, husband of Iseult and uncle of Sir Tristram.
Saint, Marcus, Saint.
a male given name, form of Marcus.
Marcus Alonzo (“Mark”) 1837–1904, U.S. merchant and politician: senator 1897–1904.
Contemporary Examples

Myths of the Bin Laden Raid Richard Miniter November 6, 2011
Mark Shriver’s Quest to Understand “A Good Man” Scott Stossel June 3, 2012
11 Wacky, Moving, Memorable ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Moments (VIDEO) Chancellor Agard October 9, 2013
How We Made ‘The Help’ Brunson Green August 12, 2011
Gertrude of Arabia, the Woman Who Invented Iraq Clive Irving June 16, 2014

Historical Examples

Punctuation Frederick W. Hamilton
Essay on Man Alexander Pope
Children’s Rhymes, Children’s Games, Children’s Songs, Children’s Stories Robert Ford
The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. in Nine Volumes Samuel Johnson
1601 Mark Twain

noun
a visible impression, stain, etc, on a surface, such as a spot or scratch
a sign, symbol, or other indication that distinguishes something: an owner’s mark
a cross or other symbol made instead of a signature
a written or printed sign or symbol, as for punctuation: a question mark
a letter, number, or percentage used to grade academic work
a thing that indicates position or directs; marker
a desired or recognized standard: he is not up to the mark
an indication of some quality, feature, or prowess: he has the mark of an athlete
quality or importance; note: a person of little mark
a target or goal
impression or influence: he left his mark on German literature
one of the temperature settings on a gas oven: gas mark 5
(often capital) (in trade names)

model, brand, or type: the car is a Mark 4
a variation on a particular model: a Mark 3 Cortina

(slang) a suitable victim, esp for swindling
(nautical) one of the intervals distinctively marked on a sounding lead Compare deep (sense 21)
(bowls) another name for the jack1 (sense 7)
(rugby Union) an action in which a player standing inside his own 22m line catches a forward kick by an opponent and shouts “mark”, entitling himself to a free kick
(Australian rules football) a catch of the ball from a kick of at least 10 yards, after which a free kick is taken
(boxing) the mark, the middle of the stomach at or above the line made by the boxer’s trunks
(in medieval England and Germany) a piece of land held in common by the free men of a community
an obsolete word for frontier
(statistics) See class mark
make one’s mark, to succeed or achieve recognition
on your mark, on your marks, a command given to runners in a race to prepare themselves at the starting line
verb
to make or receive (a visible impression, trace, or stain) on (a surface)
(transitive) to characterize or distinguish: his face was marked by anger
often foll by off or out. to set boundaries or limits (on): to mark out an area for negotiation
(transitive) to select, designate, or doom by or as if by a mark: to mark someone as a criminal
(transitive) to put identifying or designating labels, stamps, etc, on, esp to indicate price: to mark the book at one pound
(transitive) to pay heed or attention to: mark my words
to observe; notice
to grade or evaluate (scholastic work): she marks fairly
(Brit, sport) to stay close to (an opponent) to hamper his or her play
to keep (score) in some games
mark time

to move the feet alternately as in marching but without advancing
to act in a mechanical and routine way
to halt progress temporarily, while awaiting developments

interjection
(rugby Union) the shout given by a player when calling for a mark
noun
See Deutschmark, markka, Reichsmark, Ostmark
a former monetary unit and coin in England and Scotland worth two thirds of a pound sterling
a silver coin of Germany until 1924
noun (New Testament)
one of the four Evangelists. Feast day: April 25
the second Gospel, traditionally ascribed to him
noun
William. 1910–2001, US animator and film producer who with Joseph Barbera (1911–2006) created the cartoon characters Tom and Jerry in the 1940s; the Hanna–Barbera company later produced numerous cartoon series for television.
n.
v.

v. marked, mark·ing, marks

The target or victim of a swindle, esp one who is easily duped; patsy, sucker: not that he’s more of a mark than other horse nuts/ his ”marks,” as the gullible are called by a pitchman (1883+)
An outsider or member of the local community; home guard: Marks aren’t allowed in (1940s+ Carnival)

mark down
mark my words
mark time
mark up