First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1mar
verb \ˈmär\
: to ruin the beauty or perfection of (something) : to hurt or damage the good condition of (something)
marredmar·ring
Full Definition of MAR
transitive verb
1
: to detract from the perfection or wholeness of : spoil
2
See mar defined for English-language learners
See mar defined for kids
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Origin of MAR
Middle English marren, from Old English mierran to obstruct, waste; akin to Old High German merren to obstruct
Related to MAR
Synonym Discussion of MAR
injure, harm, hurt, damage, impair, mar mean to affect injuriously. injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success <badly injured in an accident>. harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss <careful not to harm the animals>. hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings <hurt by their callous remarks>. damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness <a table damaged in shipping>. impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution <years of smoking had impaired his health>. mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement <the text is marred by many typos>.
2mar
noun
Definition of MAR
: something that mars : blemish
First Known Use of MAR
1551
Related to MAR
- Synonyms
- blight, blotch, defect, deformity, disfigurement, excrescence, excrescency, fault, flaw, imperfection, blemish, mark, pockmark, scar
3mar
abbreviation
Definition of MAR
maritime
Mar
abbreviation
MAR[1] Defined for Kids
mar
verb \ˈmär\
marredmar·ring
Definition of MAR for Kids
: to ruin the beauty or perfection of : spoil <… Little Man never allowed dirt or tears or stains to mar anything he owned. — Mildred D. Taylor, Roll of Thunder>
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