marker
Felt-tip pen for writing/drawing
A thick pen with strong ink that you use to write, draw, or color.
use [a marker] to [write/draw/color] on [something]
- She used a black marker to label all the boxes.
- Please bring colored markers for the poster project.
- The writing stayed on the glass because he used a permanent marker.
- The teacher wrote the answers on the board with a blue marker.
- This marker is running out of ink; I can barely see the line.
- I drew a big red heart with a marker.
- The teacher writes on the board with a marker.
- Please do not use a permanent marker on the table.
- He has a box full of different color markers.
- My black marker is dry, so I need a new one.
Sign that indicates something
A thing or fact that shows that something is true, happening, or changing.
a marker of/for [quality/condition/change]
- High employee turnover can be a marker of deeper problems in a company.
- In many cultures, home ownership is seen as a marker of success.
- Rising sea temperatures are an important marker of climate change.
- Low test scores may be a marker of unequal access to education.
- Doctors often look for specific proteins in the blood as a marker of infection.
- Good test results can be a marker of progress in school.
- For many people, a new car is a marker of success.
- High prices are a marker of strong demand.
- A big smile is often a marker of happiness.
- Poor health can be a marker of a stressful life.
Physical sign showing a place
A sign or object that shows where a place, line, or limit is.
a marker for [a place/boundary] on [a surface/area]
- We pulled over at the mile 50 marker to take a break.
- A small stone marker shows where the two properties meet.
- The grave marker lists his name, birth date, and the date he died.
- Bright orange trail markers helped hikers stay on the path.
- There is a historical marker outside the building explaining what happened there.
- We stopped the car at the mile marker on the highway.
- A white stone marker shows the border between the two countries.
- The family put a new marker on the grave.
- Red markers on the trees show the walking path.
- There is a metal marker in the park with the year it was built.
Genetic or biological indicator
A piece of DNA or a substance in the body that helps scientists or doctors find or follow a disease, trait, or person.
a genetic/biological marker for [disease/trait]
- Researchers have identified a genetic marker that is strongly linked to the disease.
- This protein is used as a tumor marker to monitor how well the treatment is working.
- The presence of certain markers in the blood can indicate an increased risk of heart problems.
- Doctors tested for specific biological markers before starting the new drug.
- These DNA markers help scientists track how the population has moved over time.
- The doctor looked for special markers in her blood.
- A genetic marker can show if a person may get a disease in the future.
- Scientists use DNA markers to study family history.
- This test finds markers that can warn of cancer early.
- Some markers in the body change when you are sick.
Person who grades work
A person who checks exams or papers and gives marks or grades.
a marker of [exams/tests/essays]
- The exam markers met to agree on the marking scheme before they started.
- All essays will be read by two independent markers.
- The markers complained that the papers were very long this year.
- She works as a part-time marker for the national exams.
- Clear handwriting makes the marker's job much easier.
- The exam marker checked my answers very carefully.
- Different markers read the same test to be fair.
- The markers use a guide to give scores.
- The teacher is the only marker for this small class.
- The exam markers finished their work after two weeks.
Small game piece or token
A small piece that shows where you are or what you have in a game or activity.
place/move [a] marker on [a space/spot]
- Each player chooses a different colored marker before the game starts.
- If you answer correctly, move your marker forward two spaces.
- Use these coins as markers to keep track of your points.
- She knocked the board and all the markers fell onto the floor.
- Put a marker on the map where you want to build your next base.
- I moved my marker three spaces on the board.
- Each child gets one marker in the game.
- Use this small stone as a marker on the map.
- His marker shows that he is winning.
- We use bottle caps as markers in our game.
Player who marks an opponent
In sports, the player who stays close to one opponent to stop them from playing easily.
[someone] is [someone's] marker
- He shook off his marker and scored the winning goal.
- The coach assigned their best defender as the main marker for the star striker.
- The forward easily outran his marker down the wing.
- Her marker gave her too much space, and she took the shot.
- If you lose your marker, the whole defense can fall apart.
- The striker ran past his marker and scored.
- She is the main marker for the other team’s best player.
- His marker did not stay close, so he got the ball.
- The coach told each player who their marker was.
- He is a strong marker and never lets his player go free.
- Base: marker
- Plural: markers
boundary marker
1Object showing a land border
A sign or object that shows where one piece of land ends and another begins.
- They placed concrete boundary markers along the edge of the property.
- The old boundary marker was hidden under thick bushes.
- A boundary marker in the river shows the line between the two countries.
dry-erase marker
1Marker for whiteboards that wipes off
A marker pen that you can use on a whiteboard and then clean off easily without water.
- Only use a dry-erase marker on the whiteboard.
- Someone used a permanent pen instead of a dry-erase marker and it ruined the board.
- She grabbed a dry-erase marker and drew a quick diagram.
genetic marker
1DNA feature used for identification
A piece of DNA that helps scientists or doctors find or follow a trait, person, or disease.
- Scientists found a genetic marker that increases the risk of the condition.
- This genetic marker is common in people whose families come from that region.
- The test looks for several genetic markers linked to the illness.
grave marker
1Object showing whose grave it is
A stone or sign on a grave that shows the name and information of the dead person.
- The family chose a simple grave marker with his name and dates.
- Many of the old grave markers in the cemetery are hard to read.
- They cleaned the grave marker before placing fresh flowers.
mile marker
1Road sign showing mile distance
A sign on the side of a road that shows how many miles you are from a certain place.
- We stopped to rest at the mile 100 marker on the highway.
- The accident happened just after the mile marker near the bridge.
- They checked the mile markers to see how far they still had to drive.
page marker
1Object used to mark a page
A small object, like a strip of paper, used to show the place where you stop reading in a book.
- She slid a page marker between the pages before closing the book.
- Use a page marker instead of folding the corner of the page.
- The book comes with a ribbon page marker attached to the spine.
trail marker
1Sign that marks a hiking route
A sign or painted mark that shows where a walking path or hiking trail goes.
- Follow the blue trail markers until you reach the lake.
- Some of the trail markers had fallen down after the storm.
- Without clear trail markers, it is easy to get lost in the forest.
tumor marker
1Body substance that suggests a tumor
A substance in the blood or body that can show if a person may have a tumor or cancer.
- Her tumor marker levels dropped after several rounds of chemotherapy.
- Doctors use tumor markers to help monitor how well the treatment is working.
- An increase in a specific tumor marker can be an early warning sign of cancer returning.
whiteboard marker
1Marker used on whiteboards
A marker pen made for writing on a whiteboard.
- The teacher ran out of ink in her whiteboard marker.
- Please buy some new whiteboard markers for the meeting room.
- He mixed up a whiteboard marker with a normal pen and wrote on paper.
permanent marker
1pen with non-removable ink
A pen with ink that stays on and cannot be erased easily.
- She labeled the boxes with a permanent marker.
- Write your name on the box with a permanent marker.
- Be careful—this is written in permanent marker.
- Be careful, that’s a permanent marker and it will stain your clothes.
- She used a permanent marker to label all the storage containers.