/'mɑ:bl; `mɑrbl/
n
1 [U] type of hard limestone used, when cut and polished, for building and sculpture 大理石
*a slab of unpolished marble 未经打磨的大理石板
* These steps are made of marble. 这些台阶是大理石的.
* [attrib 作定语] a marble statue, tomb, etc 大理石的雕像、墓等.
2 marbles [pl] collection of marble sculptures; works of art in marble 大理石雕刻品; 大理石艺术品.
3 (a) [C] small ball of glass, clay, etc used by children in games （儿童玩的）玻璃弹球, 泥弹球.
(b) marbles [pl] game played with these 弹球游戏
*Let's have a game of marbles. 咱们玩儿弹球游戏吧.
4 (idm 习语) lose one's marbles => lose.

adj [attrib 作定语] (fig 比喻) like marble 像大理石的
*marble (ie smooth and white) skin 大理石般光洁的皮肤
* a marble (ie cold and unfeeling) heart 铁石心肠.

n
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French;Origin: marbre, from Latin marmor, from Greek marmaros]
[U]
a type of hard rock that becomes smooth when it is polished, and is used for making buildings, statues etc
　The columns were of white marble.
　a marble statue
[C]
a small coloured glass ball that children roll along the ground as part of a game
marbles[U]
a game played by children using marbles
lose your marblesinformal
to start behaving in a crazy way
= go mad
[C]
a statue or sculpture made of marble