mark1
  
  n.
        - a small area on a surface having a different colour from its surroundings, typically one caused by damage or dirt.
 - a line, figure, or symbol made as an indication or record of something. 
▸a sign or indication of a quality or feeling:
 a mark of respect.
  ▸a written symbol made on a document in place of a signature by someone who cannot write.
 - something that indicates position or acts as a pointer. 
▸a competitor's starting point in a race.
 ▸Nautical  a piece of material or a knot used to indicate a depth on a sounding line.
 ▸Telecommunications  one of two possible states of a signal in certain systems. The opposite of space.
 ▸a level or stage:
 unemployment passed the two million mark.
 - chiefly Brit. a point awarded for a correct answer or for proficiency in an examination. 
▸a figure or letter representing the total of such points.
 ▸
(also handicap mark)
 Horse Racing  an official assessment of a horse's form, used as the basis for calculating the weight the horse has to carry in a race.
 - (followed by a numeral) a particular model or type of a vehicle or machine:
 a Mark 10 Jaguar.
 - a target. 
▸
informal, chiefly US a person who is easily deceived or taken advantage of:
 they figure I'm an easy mark.
 - Rugby Union  the act of cleanly catching the ball direct from a kick, knock-on, or forward throw by an opponent, on or behind one's own 22-metre line, and exclaiming ‘Mark’, after which a free kick can be taken by the catcher.
 - Australian Rules  an act of catching a ball direct from a kick of at least fifteen metres, or the spot from which the subsequent kick is taken.
 
v.
        - make a mark on. 
▸become stained.
 - identify using a mark or by writing something down. 
▸
(mark something up)
 annotate or correct a text for printing, keying, or typesetting.
 - indicate the position of. 
▸separate or distinguish by means of a particular feature or characteristic.
 ▸
(mark someone out for)
 select or destine someone for (a particular role).
 ▸
(mark someone down as)
 judge someone to be.
 - acknowledge or celebrate (an event) with a particular action. 
▸be an indication of (a significant event or phase).
 - 
(mark something up or down)
 (of a retailer) increase or reduce the indicated price of an item.
 - assess and give a mark to (written work). 
▸
(mark someone/thing down)
 reduce the number of marks awarded to a candidate or their work.
 - notice or pay careful attention to.
 - Brit. (in team games) stay close to (an opponent) in order to prevent them getting or passing the ball. 
▸Australian Rules  catch (the ball) from a kick of at least ten metres.
 
 
  Phrase
  
    - be quick 
(or slow)
 off the mark
 be fast (or slow) in responding.  - get off the mark
 get started.  - leave 
(or make)
 its 
(or one's or a)
 mark
 have a lasting or significant effect.  - one's mark
 Brit. something which is particularly typical of or suitable for someone.  - mark time
  - (of troops) march on the spot without moving forward.
 - pass one's time in routine activities until a more favourable opportunity presents itself.
 
  - mark you
 chiefly Brit. used to emphasize or draw attention.  - near 
(or close)
 to the mark
 almost accurate.  - off 
(or wide of)
 the mark
 incorrect or inaccurate.  - of mark
 dated having importance or distinction.  - on the mark
 correct; accurate.  - on your marks
 used to instruct competitors in a race to prepare themselves in the correct starting position.  - up to the mark
 up to the required standard or normal level. 
   
  Etymology
  OE mearc, gemerce (n.), mearcian (v.), of Gmc origin.
 
  
    
mark2
  
  n.
   - (until the introduction of the euro in 2002) the basic monetary unit of Germany, equal to 100 pfennig.
 - a former English and Scottish money of account, equal to thirteen shillings and four pence in the currency of the day.
 - a denomination of weight for gold and silver, formerly used throughout western Europe and typically equal to 8 ounces (226.8 grams).
 
 
  Etymology
  OE marc, from ON mǫrk; prob. rel. to mark1.