marbling

noun

mar·​bling ˈmär-b(ə-)liŋ 

1

: the action or process of making like marble especially in coloration

2

: coloration or markings resembling or suggestive of marble

3

: an intermixture of fat and lean especially when evenly distributed in a cut of meat

Examples of marbling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Their genetics, movement, and diet result in meat that is nutty, creamy, and slightly sweet, with excellent marbling. —Sofia Perez, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 July 2024

Ribeyes tend to have a lot of marbling, and because the muscles in this part of the cow don't get much use, the meat is extra tender. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 June 2024

Centeno later told me that the tenderness of the filling came not just from slow cooking, but from the meat itself, which had a degree of fat marbling graded between K4 and wagyu. —Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 26 Feb. 2024

The chef is winning over critics of the cut by sourcing Miyazaki A5 Wagyu, which has rich marbling of intramuscular fat that American Angus can’t match. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

marbling

noun

mar·​bling

: a mixture of fat and lean in a cut of meat