# marker

Pronunciation: US say "MAHR-kur" /ˈmɑɹkɚ/; say "MAH-kuh" UK /ˈmɑːkə/, AUS /ˈmɑː(ɹ)kə(ɹ)/

## Noun

1. A felt-tipped pen that writes in bold, often permanent ink.
   - Simple: A pen with a soft, felt tip that writes thick lines of color.
   - _The teacher uncapped a marker and started filling the whiteboard._
   - _Permanent markers leave ink that water cannot wash away._
2. A person or thing that makes marks of any kind.
   - Simple: A person or a thing that makes marks on something.
   - _Before kickoff, the groundskeeper rolled the marker down the sidelines, leaving a crisp white line behind it._
   - _Working a step ahead of the loggers, the marker sprayed an orange stripe on every tree that was to come down._
3. An object that marks a place in the landscape, such as a milepost, trail blaze, or surveyor's cairn.
   - Simple: An object placed on the ground to show a spot or boundary, like a post or stone.
   - _The surveyor drove a brass marker into the ground at the corner of the lot._
   - _Old stone markers still line the route the pilgrims once walked._
4. A target or goal to work toward, whether a physical point or an abstract achievement.
   - Simple: A goal or target that you try to reach.
   - _Reaching a million users became the startup's next marker._
   - _Each chapter she finished felt like a marker on the long road to her degree._
5. A spot on a stage or set, usually shown by a small X on the floor, where an actor is to stand or move during a scene.
   - Simple: A spot on a stage or film set, often a small X, where an actor must stand.
   - _The director reminded each actor to find their marker before the take._
   - _She stepped onto her marker just as the lights came up._
6. A small counter used to keep score or track position, especially in card games or backgammon.
   - Simple: A small piece used to keep track of points or position in a game.
   - _She slid her marker forward after rolling the dice._
   - _The players traded colored markers to settle the round's bets._
7. In genetics, a gene or DNA sequence whose position on a chromosome is known, making it useful for identifying individuals or species.
   - Simple: A gene or piece of DNA found at a known place on a chromosome, used to tell individuals or species apart.
   - _Researchers located a marker on the chromosome to trace the inherited trait._
   - _Comparing genetic markers across populations revealed their shared ancestry._
8. A substance used as an indicator in diagnosis or analysis, also called a biomarker.
   - Simple: A substance in the body that doctors measure to help find or track a disease.
   - _The lab measured a marker that signals liver damage._
   - _Several markers in the blood sample suggested an infection._
9. A defensive player assigned to closely guard one or more opposing attackers.
   - Simple: A defending player who stays close to an opponent to stop them scoring.
   - _The coach assigned his strongest marker to the opposing playmaker._
   - _Quick markers tracked every run the forwards made._
10. In linguistics, a word or attached word part that signals a grammatical function, such as the -s that marks a plural.
   - Simple: A small word or word-part that shows a grammar job, such as the -s that makes a plural.
   - _English adds a marker to show past tense on regular verbs._
   - _Some languages use separate markers for case and number._
11. A person who assigns marks to tests, examinations, and similar work; a grader. *(UK)*
   - Simple: A person who checks and scores tests or exams.
   - _A marker checks each script against the official mark scheme._
   - _Experienced markers can mark dozens of papers in a day._
12. A person who keeps score, especially one who tallies the score in a game of billiards.
   - Simple: A person who keeps score, especially in a game of billiards.
   - _The marker chalked up each point as the game went on._
   - _A good marker never loses count during a long match._
14. The ink marks or leftover ink from a felt-tipped pen. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: The ink left on a surface by a felt-tipped pen.
   - _A faint smell of marker hung over the freshly labeled boxes._
   - _He smudged the marker before it had time to dry._
15. A personal favor owed to someone, whether recorded in writing or not.
   - Simple: A favor that someone owes you and that you can ask for later.
   - _He cashed in an old marker to get his nephew an interview._
   - _After everything she did for them, they owed her more than one marker._
16. A device that fires paintballs, used in the sport of paintball.
   - Simple: A gun-like device used to shoot paintballs in the game of paintball.
   - _She upgraded her marker with a new barrel before the tournament._
   - _Every marker has to pass a velocity check before the match._
17. An informal written record of a debt; an IOU. *(slang, US)*
   - Simple: A written note saying that you owe someone money.
   - _The gambler left a marker at the table to cover his losses._
   - _He finally paid off a marker he had owed for months._
18. Ellipsis of discourse marker. — Ellipsis of discourse marker.
   - Simple: Short form of discourse marker. A small word like 'well' or 'so' that helps organize speech.
   - _Speakers use a marker like 'so' to launch into an explanation._
   - _The professor counted every marker the students dropped into their answers._
20. A person or thing used to mark a position or amount.
   - Simple: A person or thing that shows where something is or how much there is.
   - _Hikers tied a bright marker to the branch to show the way back._
   - _A floating marker showed where the diver had gone down._

## Verb

13. To write or draw on a surface using a marker pen.
   - Simple: To draw or write on a surface with a felt-tipped pen.
   - _She markered bold arrows across the whiteboard to guide the team._
   - _Volunteers marker a price on every box before the yard sale opens._

## Noun

19. A player employed by a private club to play games against its members. *(dated)*
   - Simple: A skilled player hired by a club to play against its members.
   - _The billiard room kept a marker on hand to partner any member who wanted a match._
   - _As the club's marker, he played dozens of frames a day against the regulars._

## Other meanings

- (noun) A formal certification that a company was the first to report a cartel to a competition authority, generally entitling it to greater leniency in the penalties that follow.
- (noun) A direction from a camera operator telling actors to take their positions, ready for a take.
- (noun) The soldier who leads a wheeling column or sets the direction for a line of troops to align on.
- (noun) An attachment for a sewing machine that creases the fabric to mark a sewing line.
- (noun) A point added to a team's or player's score in a game or contest.

## Origin

Formed from "mark" combined with the suffix "-er".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/marker (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).