noun · verb · 13 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈɪəmɑːk/
General-American:/ˈɪ(ə)ɹˌmɑɹk/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:IH1 R M AA2 R K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:IY1 R M AA2 R K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal (chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the animal, such as ownership, health or gestation status, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: agriculture, business, lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: lugmark
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: ear tag
2
noun
Meaning 2
A distinguishing or identifying mark or sign; specifically (archaic), a mark of ownership.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An act of designating certain funds to be used for a specific purpose.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Topics: business, finance
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Specifically, a designation by the Congress that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, figuratively
Topics: government, politics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: lettermark, phonemark
5
verb
Meaning 5
To make a mark or attach a tag to the ear of (an animal, chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the animal, such as ownership.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: agriculture, business, lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: ear-tag
6
verb
Meaning 6
To put a distinguishing or identifying mark or sign on (something); to make (something) distinctive or identifiable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose; to allocate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: allot, appropriate, allocate, shelve, assign, dedicate, detach, designate, earmark, preselect, put aside, secern, secernate, separate, sepose, sequester, set apart, set aside
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
Chiefly followed by for: to designate (certain funds) to be used for a specific purpose.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, transitive
Topics: business, finance
Examples
You can donate to the organization as a whole, or you can earmark your contribution for a particular project.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
Chiefly followed by for: to designate (certain funds) to be used for a specific purpose.
To designate (part of a pension) to be payable to the holder's former spouse or payment when the pension is paid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, figuratively, transitive
Topics: business, finance
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
verb
Meaning 10
Chiefly followed by for: to designate (certain funds) to be used for a specific purpose.
Of the Congress: to designate that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, figuratively, transitive
Topics: business, finance, government, politics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: lettermark, phonemark
11
noun
Meaning 11
a distinctive characteristic or attribute
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hallmark, trademark, stylemark
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: characteristic
Narrower terms: mold, mould
12
noun
Meaning 12
identification mark on the ear of a domestic animal
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: marker, marking, mark
13
verb
Meaning 13
give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
I will earmark this money for your research
She sets aside time for meditation every day
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: allow, appropriate, set aside, reserve
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: assign, allot, portion
History
Etymology
The noun is derived from ear + mark. The verb is derived from the noun.
Across languages
Translations
61 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bashkir:
инәү
(inəw)
— mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal, generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Bulgarian:
дамга на ухото
(damga na uhoto)
— mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal, generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Finnish:
korvamerkki
— mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal, generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Indonesian:
tengas
— mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal, generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Kazakh:
солақ
(solaq)
— mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal, generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Russian:
клеймо́ на ухе
(klejmó na uxe)
— mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal, generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Russian:
тавро
(tavro)
— mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal, generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Turkish:
kırlangıç kuyruğu
— mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal, generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Welsh:
clustnod
— mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal, generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Finnish:
merkki
— any distinguishing or identifying mark or sign
Finnish:
tunnusmerkki
— any distinguishing or identifying mark or sign
Welsh:
clustnod
— any distinguishing or identifying mark or sign
Finnish:
korvamerkki
— specifically, mark of ownership
Welsh:
clustnod
— specifically, mark of ownership
Finnish:
osoitus
— act of designating certain funds to be used for a specific purpose
Finnish:
varaus
— act of designating certain funds to be used for a specific purpose
Welsh:
clustnodiad
— act of designating certain funds to be used for a specific purpose
Finnish:
osoitus
— designation by the Congress that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project
Finnish:
varaus
— designation by the Congress that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project
Romanian:
alocare
— designation by the Congress that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project
Romanian:
alocație
— designation by the Congress that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project
Spanish:
asignación
— designation by the Congress that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project
Spanish:
destino
— designation by the Congress that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project
Spanish:
reserva
— designation by the Congress that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project
Bulgarian:
дамгосвам
(damgosvam)
— to make a mark or attach a tag to the ear of (an animal, chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Danish:
øremærke
— to make a mark or attach a tag to the ear of (an animal, chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Finnish:
korvamerkitä
— to make a mark or attach a tag to the ear of (an animal, chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Indonesian:
menengas
— to make a mark or attach a tag to the ear of (an animal, chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Norwegian Bokmål:
øremerke
— to make a mark or attach a tag to the ear of (an animal, chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Welsh:
clustnodi
— to make a mark or attach a tag to the ear of (an animal, chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the animal
Bulgarian:
слагам настрана
(slagam nastrana)
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Bulgarian:
заделям
(zadeljam)
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Bulgarian:
заделя
(zadelja)
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Danish:
øremærke
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Finnish:
korvamerkitä
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
French:
allouer
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
French:
réserver
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
German:
bestimmen
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Hungarian:
elkülönít
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Hungarian:
előirányoz
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Hungarian:
félretesz
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Hungarian:
kijelöl
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Hungarian:
lefoglal
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Hungarian:
szán
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Māori:
tāpui
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Norwegian Bokmål:
øremerke
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Russian:
отмеча́ть
(otmečátʹ)
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Russian:
выделя́ть
(vydeljátʹ)
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Spanish:
apartar
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Spanish:
asignar
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Spanish:
destinar
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Spanish:
placear
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Spanish:
reservar
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Swedish:
öronmärka
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Welsh:
clustnodi
— to designate or set aside (someone or something) for a particular purpose — see also allocate
Finnish:
osoittaa
— to designate (certain funds) to be used for a specific purpose
Finnish:
varata
— to designate (certain funds) to be used for a specific purpose
Welsh:
clustnodi
— to designate (certain funds) to be used for a specific purpose
Finnish:
osoittaa
— to designate (part of a pension) to be payable to the holder’s former spouse or payment when the pension is paid
Finnish:
osoittaa
— of the US Congress: to designate that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project
Finnish:
varata
— of the US Congress: to designate that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project