a visible impression or trace on something, as a line, cut, dent, stain, or bruise: a small mark on his arm.
2.
a badge, brand, or other visible sign assumed or imposed: a mark of his noble rank.
3.
a symbol used in writing or printing: a punctuation mark.
4.
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.
5.
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.
7.
a symbol used in rating conduct, proficiency, attainment, etc., as of pupils in a school: good marks; bad marks.
8.
something serving as an indication of position, as a landmark.
9.
a recognized or required standard of quality, accomplishment, etc.; norm: His dissertation was below the mark.
10.
distinction or importance; repute; note: a man of mark.
11.
a distinctive trait or characteristic: the usual marks of a gentleman.
12.
(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.
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).
21.
a tract of land that may have been held in common by a primitive or early medieval community of peasants in Germany.
22.
Archaicor History/Historical. a boundary; frontier.
Origin: before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English mearc mark, sign, banner, dividing line, borderland; cognate with German Mark borderland, unit of weight, Old Norse mǫrk forest (orig., borderland), unit of weight, Gothic marka boundary, borderland, Latin margōmargin; (v.) Middle English marken,Old English mearcian; cognate with Old Frisian merkia,Old High German marchōn,Old Norse marka to plan
n. a dupe; a victim selected for a theft or a swindle. (Underworld.) : I bumped the mark on the shoulder, and he put his hand on his wallet just like always.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
mark down
Reduce the price of something, as in If they mark down these shoes, I'll buy two pairs. The mark here alludes to the label indicating a price. [Mid-1800s]