marble

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
marble/ˈmɑːbl/

▶noun

• 1 a hard crystalline metamorphic form of limestone, typically variegated or mottled, which may be polished and is used in sculpture and building.

• 2 a small ball of coloured glass used as a toy.

  ■ (marbles) [treated as sing.] a game in which marbles are rolled along the ground.

• 3 (one's marbles) informal one's mental faculties.

▶verb give (something) the appearance of marble.

– derivatives
marbled adjective,
marbleize (or marbleise) verb,
marbler noun,
marbly adjective.

– origin ME: via OFr. (var. of marbre), from L. marmor, from Gk marmaros ‘shining stone’.