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Webster 1913 Edition


Earmark

Ear′markˊ

(ēr′märkˊ)
,
Noun.
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.

Ear′markˊ

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Earmarked
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Earmarking
.]
1.
To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.

Webster 1828 Edition


Earmark

E'ARMARK

,
Noun.
A mark on the ear, by which a sheep is known.

E'ARMARK

,
Verb.
T.
To mark, as sheep by cropping or slitting the ear.

Definition 2024


earmark

earmark

English

Pliers used to make an earmark.

Verb

earmark (third-person singular simple present earmarks, present participle earmarking, simple past and past participle earmarked)

  1. (transitive) To mark (as of sheep) by slitting the ear.
  2. (transitive, by extension) To specify or set aside for a particular purpose, to allocate.
    You can donate to the organization as a whole, or you can earmark your contribution for a particular project.

Translations

Noun

earmark (plural earmarks)

  1. A mark or deformation of the ear of an animal, intended to indicate ownership.
  2. (US, politics) The designation of specific projects in appropriations of funding for general programs.
  3. A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.
    • Wharton
      Money is said to have no earmark.
    • Burrow
      A set of intellectual ideas [] have earmarks upon them, no tokens of a particular proprietor.

Coordinate terms

Translations

References

See also