English Explanatory Dictionary

earmark

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun

A mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal (chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the animal, such as ownership, health or gestation status, etc.
A distinguishing or identifying mark or sign; specifically (archaic), a mark of ownership.
An act of designating certain funds to be used for a specific purpose.
Specifically, a designation by the Congress that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project.

verb

To make a mark or attach a tag to the ear of (an animal, chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the animal, such as ownership.
To put a distinguishing or identifying mark or sign on (something); to make (something) distinctive or identifiable.
To designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose; to allocate.
Chiefly followed by for: to designate (certain funds) to be used for a specific purpose.
To designate (part of a pension) to be payable to the holder's former spouse or payment when the pension is paid.
Of the Congress: to designate that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project.

Pronunciation

/ˈɪəmɑːk/ /ˈɪ(ə)ɹˌmɑɹk/ En-us-earmark.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-earmark.wav

Word forms

earmark earmarks earmarking earmarked

Etymology

The noun is derived from ear + mark. The verb is derived from the noun.

Synonyms

lugmark allot appropriate allocate shelve assign dedicate detach designate earmark preselect put aside secern secernate separate sepose sequester set apart set aside

Related words

expenditure pork barrel

Derived words

earmarkable earmarking unearmarked

Translations

Finnish: osoittaa Finnish: varata Welsh: clustnodi

This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.

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