EARMARK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does earmark mean? 

• EARMARK (noun)
  The noun EARMARK has 2 senses:

1. identification mark on the ear of a domestic animal

2. a distinctive characteristic or attribute

  Familiarity information: EARMARK used as a noun is rare.

• EARMARK (verb)
  The verb EARMARK has 1 sense:

1. give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause

  Familiarity information: EARMARK used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EARMARK (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Identification mark on the ear of a domestic animal

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("earmark" is a kind of...):

mark; marker; marking (a distinguishing symbol)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A distinctive characteristic or attribute

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

earmark; hallmark; stylemark; trademark

Hypernyms ("earmark" is a kind of...):

characteristic (a distinguishing quality)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "earmark"):

mold; mould (a distinctive nature, character, or type)

Derivation:

earmark (give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause)

• EARMARK (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they earmark    ... he / she / it earmarks   
Past simple: earmarked   
Past participle: earmarked   
-ing form: earmarking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

allow; appropriate; earmark; reserve; set aside

Context example:

She sets aside time for meditation every day

Hypernyms (to "earmark" is one way to...):

allot; assign; portion (give out)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Derivation:

earmark (a distinctive characteristic or attribute)