earmark

¹ear·mark

noun \ˈir-ˌmärk\

Definition of EARMARK

1

: a mark of identification on the ear of an animal

2

: a distinguishing mark <all the earmarks of poverty>

3

: a provision in Congressional legislation that allocates a specified amount of money for a specific project, program, or organization

First Known Use of EARMARK

15th century

Rhymes with EARMARK

aardvark, airpark, anarch, autarch, ballpark, benchmark, birthmark, blue shark, bookmark, check mark, chop mark, debark, demark, Denmark, D-mark, embark, endarch, exarch, footmark, futhark, Graustark, hallmark, hash mark, horned lark, ironbark, landmark, Lamarck, monarch, Petrarch, pitch-dark, Plutarch, pockmark, postmark, pressmark, pugmark, reichsmark, remark, remarque, Remarque, ringbark, seamark, shagbark, sitzmark, skylark, soapbark, space mark, stress mark, tanbark, tetrarch, theme park, tidemark, titlark, touchmark, trademark, whale shark

²earmark

transitive verb

Definition of EARMARK

1

a : to mark (livestock) with an earmark

b : to mark in a distinguishing manner

2

: to designate (as funds) for a specific use or owner <money earmarked for education>

Examples of EARMARK

1. The project uses funds that had been earmarked for education.
2. <the earnings from my second job have been earmarked for a down payment on a car>

First Known Use of EARMARK

1591

Related to EARMARK

Synonyms

allocate, consecrate, dedicate, devote, give up (to), reserve, save, set by

Related Words

bless, hallow, sanctify; commit, confide, consign, entrust (also intrust); apply, bestow, employ, use

Near Antonyms

ignore, neglect; misapply, misuse

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite