Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
earmark - 5 dictionary results

ear⋅mark

  [eer-mahrk]
Use earmark in a Sentence
–noun
1. any identifying or distinguishing mark or characteristic: The mayor's statement had all the earmarks of dirty politics.
2. a mark of identification made on the ear of an animal to show ownership.
–verb (used with object)
3. to set aside for a specific purpose, use, recipient, etc.: to earmark goods for export.
4. to mark with an earmark.
Origin:
1515–25; ear 1 + mark 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To earmark
ear·mark   (îr'märk')   
n.  
  1. An identifying feature or characteristic: a novel with all the earmarks of success.
  2. An identifying mark on the ear of a domestic animal.
tr.v.   ear·marked, ear·mark·ing, ear·marks
  1. To reserve or set aside for a particular purpose. See Synonyms at allocate.
  2. To mark in an identifying or distinctive way.
  3. To mark the ear of (a domestic animal) for identification.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Earmark

Ear"mark`\, n. 1. A mark on the ear of sheep, oxen, dogs, etc., as by cropping or slitting.

2. A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.

Money is said to have no earmark. --Wharton.

Flying, he [a slave] should be described by the rounding of his head, and his earmark. --Robynson (More's Utopia).

A set of intellectual ideas . . . have earmarks upon them, no tokens of a particular proprietor. --Burrow.

Earmark

Ear"mark`\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earmarked; p. pr. & vb. n. Earmarking.] To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : earmark
Spanish: destinar, apartar,
German: bestimmt,
Japanese: ～用に指定する
More Translations »

earmark 
1523, from ear (1) + mark (1). Originally a cut or mark in the ear of sheep and cattle, serving as a sign of ownership; first recorded 1577 in figurative sense.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see earmark on Thesaurus | Reference