- marcel n. A hairstyle characterized by deep regular waves made by a heated
curling iron. v. tr. & intr.
- on the march: Advancing steadily; progressing: Technology is on the march.
- steal a march on: To get ahead of, especially by quiet enterprise.
- march2 n. 1. The border or boundary of a country or an area of land; a
frontier. 2. A tract of land bordering on two countries and claimed by both.
intr.v. To have a common boundary: England marches with Scotland. [see marcher2]
- mare's nest n. 1. A hoax or fraud. 2. An extraordinarily complicated situation.
- marginalia pl.n. Notes in the margin or margins of a book.
- mariachi n. 1. A street band in Mexico.
- Mariolatry n. Excessive veneration or worship of the Virgin Mary.
--Mariolater n. --Mariolatrous adj.
- marionette n. A jointed puppet manipulated from above by strings or wires
attached to its limbs.
- mark n. 13. Slang A person who is the intended victim of a swindler; a dupe.
- maroon1 tr.v. 1. To put ashore on a deserted island or coast and intentionally
abandon. 2. To abandon or isolate with little hope of ready rescue or escape:
The travelers were marooned by the blizzard. n.
- maroon2 n. A dark reddish brown to dark purplish red.
- marplot n. an officious meddler whose interference compromises the success of
an undertaking. [After Marplot, a character in The Busy Body, a play by
Susannah Centlivre (1669-1723)]
- marquee n. 1. A large tent, often with open sides, used chiefly for outdoor
entertainment. 2. A rooflike structure, often bearing a signboard, projecting
over an entrance, as to a theater or hotel. Also called marquise. adj. Being
an athlete of exceptional skill and popularity: The team is hoping to sign a
marquee player.
- marsh hen n. Any of various marsh birds of the family Rallidae, which includes
the gallinules, coots, and rails.
- marshmallow n. 3. Slang A timid, cowardly, or ineffective person
--marshmallowy adj.
- Martha's Vineyard An island of southeast Massachusetts off the southwest coast
of Cape Cod. Settled in 1642, it was a whaling and fishing center in the 18th
and early 19th centuries and is now a resort area.
- martin n. Any of several swallows, such as the house martin and the purple
martin.
- martingale n. 3. Games A method of gambling in which one doubles the stakes
after each loss.
- martyrium n. A church or other edifice built at a site, especially a tomb,
associated with a Christian martyr or saint.
- Mary I or Mary Tudor 1516-1558 Queen of England and Ireland (1553-1558) who
reestablished Roman Catholicism (1555). Her persecution of Protestants earned
her the nickname "Bloody Mary."
- Mary Jane n. Slang Marijunana.
- Mary Janes A trademark used for patent leather shoes for girls, usually having
a low heel and a single strap that fastens at the side.
- masa n. Dough made of dried corn that has been soaked in limewater then rinsed
and ground, used especially in tortillas and tamales.
- masher n. 1. A kitchen utensil for mashing vegetables or fruit. 2. Slang A man
who attempts to force his attentions on a woman. (See mash n.6 & v.5)
- masochism n. 3. A willingness or tendency to subject oneself to unpleasant or
trying experience. [After Leopold von Sacher-Masoch(1836-1895), Austrian novelist.]
