earmark

English
Pliers used to make an earmark.

Etymology

ear +‎ mark

Pronunciation
  • Audio (US)(file)

Verb

earmark (third-person singular simple present earmarks, present participle earmarking, simple past and past participle earmarked)

  1. (transitive) To mark (as of sheep) by slitting the ear.
  2. (transitive, by extension) To specify or set aside for a particular purpose, to allocate.
    You can donate to the organization as a whole, or you can earmark your contribution for a particular project.

Synonyms

Translations

Noun

earmark (plural earmarks)

  1. A mark or deformation of the ear of an animal, intended to indicate ownership.
  2. (US, politics) The designation of specific projects in appropriations of funding for general programs.
  3. A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.
    • Wharton
      Money is said to have no earmark.
    • Burrow
      A set of intellectual ideas […] have earmarks upon them, no tokens of a particular proprietor.

Coordinate terms

Translations

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References
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