Ask Difference

Mark vs. Trace — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 25, 2023
"Mark" is a noticeable sign, impression, or symbol, while "Trace" indicates a tiny or barely detectable amount or sign of something.
Mark vs. Trace — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Mark and Trace

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Key Differences

"Mark" and "Trace" both refer to signs or indications of something, but they have varied nuances and applications. "Mark" often denotes a visible sign or indication on a surface. For instance, a student might receive a mark on a paper, or one might notice a scuff mark on a shoe. On the other hand, "Trace" often implies something minuscule or hard to notice. It suggests the presence of a very small quantity of something, like a trace of gold in a rock or a trace of perfume lingering in the air.
While "Mark" commonly signifies a more pronounced and evident sign, "Trace" leans towards a subtle or faint presence. In essence, when one speaks of a "Mark", the emphasis is on the prominence or visibility of the sign, but with "Trace", the focus is on its minute or elusive nature.

Comparison Chart

Primary Connotation

A visible sign or indication on a surface
A minuscule or barely detectable amount or sign

Usage Scope

Denotes something noticeable
Indicates a very small quantity

Common Contexts

Grades, scuff marks, symbols
Trace elements, faint memories, slight remnants
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Part of Speech

Noun, Verb
Noun, Verb

Nuance

Emphasizes the prominence or visibility of the indication
Highlights the subtlety or faintness of the presence

Compare with Definitions

Mark

A grade or score given for work.
She received a high mark on her exam.

Trace

To discover or track something by signs or evidence.
The detective traced the suspect to a hideout.

Mark

A symbol used to represent something.
The question mark indicates a query.

Trace

To outline or draw.
She traced the shape onto the fabric.

Mark

A characteristic feature or trait.
Honesty is the mark of a true friend.

Trace

Find or discover by investigation
Police are trying to trace a white van seen in the area

Mark

A small area on a surface having a different colour from its surroundings, typically one caused by damage or dirt
The blow left a red mark down one side of her face

Trace

Copy (a drawing, map, or design) by drawing over its lines on a superimposed piece of transparent paper
Trace a map of the world on to a large piece of paper

Mark

A line, figure, or symbol made as an indication or record of something
The first syllable has a stress mark

Trace

A mark, object, or other indication of the existence or passing of something
Remove all traces of the old adhesive
The aircraft disappeared without trace

Mark

A point awarded for a correct answer or for proficiency in an examination or competition
Many candidates lose marks because they don't read the questions carefully
Full marks to them for highlighting the threat to the rainforest

Trace

A very small quantity, especially one too small to be accurately measured
His body contained traces of amphetamines
Trace quantities of PCBs

Mark

(followed by a numeral) a particular model or type of a vehicle or machine
A Mark 10 Jaguar

Trace

A procedure to investigate the source of something, such as the place from which a telephone call was made
We've got a trace on the call

Mark

A target
Few bullets could have missed their mark

Trace

A line which represents the projection of a curve or surface on a plane or the intersection of a curve or surface with a plane.

Mark

The act of cleanly catching the ball direct from a kick, knock-on, or forward throw by an opponent, on or behind one's own 22-metre line, and exclaiming ‘Mark’, after which a free kick can be taken by the catcher.

Trace

A path or track.

Mark

(until the introduction of the euro in 2002) the basic monetary unit of Germany, equal to 100 pfennig; a Deutschmark
Germany spent billions of marks to save the French franc from speculators

Trace

The sum of the elements in the principal diagonal of a square matrix.

Mark

A former English and Scottish money of account, equal to thirteen shillings and four pence in the currency of the day
Sir William left 500 marks for repairing the road to Cambridge

Trace

Each of the two side straps, chains, or ropes by which a horse is attached to a vehicle that it is pulling.

Mark

The basic monetary unit of Bosnia and Herzegovina, equal to 100 fening.

Trace

A visible mark, such as a footprint, made or left by the passage of a person, animal, or thing.

Mark

Make a visible impression or stain on
He fingered the photograph gently, careful not to mark it

Trace

Evidence or an indication of the former presence or existence of something; a vestige
Left without a trace of having been there.

Mark

Write a word or symbol on (an object) in order to give information
She marked all her possessions with her name

Trace

An extremely small amount or barely perceivable indication
Spoke with a trace of sarcasm.

Mark

Indicate the position of
The top of the pass marks the border between Alaska and the Yukon

Trace

A constituent, such as a chemical compound or element, present in quantities less than a standard limit.

Mark

(of a teacher or examiner) assess the standard of (written work) by assigning points for proficiency or correct answers
The examiner may have hundreds of scripts to mark

Trace

A path or trail that has been beaten out by the passage of animals or people.

Mark

Notice or pay careful attention to
He'll leave you, you mark my words!

Trace

An act of researching or ascertaining the origin or location of something
Put a trace on the phone call.
Asked for a trace on a lost package.

Mark

(of a player in a team game) stay close to (an opponent) in order to prevent them getting or passing the ball
Each central defender marks one attacker

Trace

A line drawn by a recording instrument, such as a cardiograph.

Mark

See Table at Bible.

Trace

The point at which a line, or the curve in which a surface, intersects a coordinate plane.

Mark

A visible trace or impression, such as a line or spot
A spill that left a mark on the rug.
A mark next to each purchased item on the list.

Trace

The sum of the elements of the principal diagonal of a matrix.

Mark

A name, logo, or other indicator used to indicate ownership, origin, or level of quality.

Trace

An engram.

Mark

A notch made in an animal's ear or hide to indicate ownership.

Trace

One of two side straps or chains connecting a harnessed draft animal to a vehicle or whiffletree.

Mark

A sign, such as a cross, made in lieu of a signature.

Trace

A bar or rod, hinged at either end to another part, that transfers movement from one part of a machine to another.

Mark

A written or printed symbol used for punctuation; a punctuation mark.

Trace

To go along or follow (a path, for example)
We traced the trail up the mountain.

Mark

A number, letter, or symbol used to indicate various grades of academic achievement
Got a mark of 95 instead of 100.

Trace

To follow the course or trail of
Trace a wounded deer.

Mark

Often marks An appraisal; a rating
Earned high marks from her superiors.

Trace

To ascertain the successive stages in the development or progress of
Tracing the life cycle of an insect.
Trace the history of a family.

Mark

A knot or piece of material placed at various measured lengths on a sounding line to indicate the depth of the water.

Trace

To discover or determine by searching or researching evidence
Trace the cause of a disease.

Mark

A Plimsoll mark.

Trace

To locate or ascertain the origin of
Traced the money to a foreign bank account.

Mark

A distinctive trait or property
Good manners are the mark of a civilized person.

Trace

To draw (a line or figure); sketch; delineate.

Mark

A recognized standard of quality
Schoolwork that is not up to the mark.

Trace

To form (letters) with special concentration or care.

Mark

A lasting effect
The experience had left its mark on all of us.

Trace

To copy by following lines seen through a sheet of transparent paper.

Mark

A specific model, type, or iteration, as of a product or machine, especially when part of a series. Usually used with a number
The mark IV model of this car.

Trace

To follow closely (a prescribed pattern)
The skater traced a figure eight.

Mark

Importance; prominence
"a fellow of no mark nor likelihood" (Shakespeare).

Trace

To imprint (a design) by pressure with an instrument on a superimposed pattern.

Mark

Notice; attention
A matter unworthy of mark.

Trace

To make a design or series of markings on (a surface) by such pressure on a pattern.

Mark

A target
"A mounted officer would be a conspicuous mark" (Ambrose Bierce).

Trace

To record (a variable), as on a graph.

Mark

Something that one wishes to achieve; a goal.

Trace

To make one's way along a trail or course
We traced along the ridge.

Mark

An object or point that serves as a guide.

Trace

To have origins; be traceable
Linguistic features that trace to West Africa.

Mark

(Slang) A person who is the intended victim of a swindler; a dupe.

Trace

Occurring in extremely small amounts or in quantities less than a standard limit.

Mark

(Sports) The place from which racers begin and sometimes end their contest.

Trace

An act of tracing.
Your cell phone company can put a trace on your line.

Mark

A point reached or gained
The halfway mark of the race.

Trace

An enquiry sent out for a missing article, such as a letter or an express package.

Mark

A record
Set a new mark in the long jump.

Trace

A mark left as a sign of passage of a person or animal.

Mark

A strike or spare in bowling.

Trace

A residue of some substance or material.
There are traces of chocolate around your lips.

Mark

A stationary ball in lawn bowling; a jack.

Trace

A very small amount.
All of our chocolates may contain traces of nuts.

Mark

A boundary between countries.

Trace

(electronics) A current-carrying conductive pathway on a printed circuit board.

Mark

A tract of land in medieval England and Germany held in common by a community.

Trace

An informal road or prominent path in an arid area.

Mark

(Computers) A character or feature in a file, record, or data stream used to locate a specific point or condition.

Trace

One of two straps, chains, or ropes of a harness, extending from the collar or breastplate to a whippletree attached to a vehicle or thing to be drawn; a tug.

Mark

In Arthurian legend, a king of Cornwall who was the husband of Iseult and the uncle of her lover Tristan.

Trace

(engineering) A connecting bar or rod, pivoted at each end to the end of another piece, for transmitting motion, especially from one plane to another; specifically, such a piece in an organ stop action to transmit motion from the trundle to the lever actuating the stop slider.

Mark

An English and Scottish unit of currency that was equal to 13 shillings and 4 pence.

Trace

(fortification) The ground plan of a work or works.

Mark

Any of several European units of weight that were equal to about 8 ounces (227 grams), used especially for weighing gold and silver.

Trace

(geometry) The intersection of a plane of projection, or an original plane, with a coordinate plane.

Mark

A deutsche mark.

Trace

(mathematics) The sum of the diagonal elements of a square matrix.

Mark

A markka.

Trace

(grammar) An empty category occupying a position in the syntactic structure from which something has been moved, used to explain constructions such as wh-movement and the passive.

Mark

To make a visible trace or impression on, as with a spot, line, or dent
Marked the wall with a crayon.

Trace

(transitive) To follow the trail of.

Mark

To form, make, or depict by making a mark
Marked a square on the board.

Trace

To follow the history of.

Mark

To supply with natural markings
Gray fur that is marked with stripes.

Trace

(transitive) To draw or sketch lightly or with care.
He carefully traced the outlines of the old building before him.

Mark

To single out or indicate by or as if by a mark
Marked the spot where the treasure was buried.
A career marked for glory.

Trace

(transitive) To copy onto a sheet of paper superimposed over the original, by drawing over its lines.

Mark

To distinguish or characterize
The exuberance that marks her writings.
Marked the occasion with celebrations.

Trace

To copy; to imitate.

Mark

To make conspicuous
A concert marking the composer's 60th birthday.

Trace

To walk; to go; to travel.

Mark

To set off or separate by or as if by a line or boundary
Marked off the limits of our property.

Trace

To walk over; to pass through; to traverse.

Mark

To attach or affix identification, such as a price tag or maker's label, to.

Trace

To follow the execution of the program by making it to stop after every instruction, or by making it print a message after every step.

Mark

To evaluate (academic work) according to a scale of letters or numbers; grade.

Trace

One of two straps, chains, or ropes of a harness, extending from the collar or breastplate to a whiffletree attached to a vehicle or thing to be drawn; a tug.

Mark

To give attention to; notice
Mark her expression of discontent. Mark my words.

Trace

A connecting bar or rod, pivoted at each end to the end of another piece, for transmitting motion, esp. from one plane to another; specif., such a piece in an organ-stop action to transmit motion from the trundle to the lever actuating the stop slider.

Mark

To take note of in writing; write down
Marked the appointment on my calendar.

Trace

A mark left by anything passing; a track; a path; a course; a footprint; a vestige; as, the trace of a carriage or sled; the trace of a deer; a sinuous trace.

Mark

Sports & Games To record (the score) in various games.

Trace

A very small quantity of an element or compound in a given substance, especially when so small that the amount is not quantitatively determined in an analysis; - hence, in stating an analysis, often contracted to tr.

Mark

(Sports) To guard (an opponent), as in soccer.

Trace

A mark, impression, or visible appearance of anything left when the thing itself no longer exists; remains; token; vestige.
The shady empire shall retain no traceOf war or blood, but in the sylvan chase.

Mark

To make a visible impression
This pen will mark under water.

Trace

The intersection of a plane of projection, or an original plane, with a coordinate plane.

Mark

To receive a visible impression
The floor marks easily.

Trace

The ground plan of a work or works.

Mark

Sports & Games To keep score.

Trace

To mark out; to draw or delineate with marks; especially, to copy, as a drawing or engraving, by following the lines and marking them on a sheet superimposed, through which they appear; as, to trace a figure or an outline; a traced drawing.
Some faintly traced features or outline of the mother and the child, slowly lading into the twilight of the woods.

Mark

To determine academic grades
A teacher who marks strictly.

Trace

To follow by some mark that has been left by a person or thing which has preceded; to follow by footsteps, tracks, or tokens.
You may trace the deluge quite round the globe.
I feel thy power . . . to trace the waysOf highest agents.

Mark

(heading) Boundary, land within a boundary.

Trace

Hence, to follow the trace or track of.
How all the way the prince on footpace traced.

Mark

(obsolete) A boundary; a border or frontier.

Trace

To copy; to imitate.
That servile path thou nobly dost decline,Of tracing word, and line by line.

Mark

(obsolete) A boundary-post or fence.

Trace

To walk over; to pass through; to traverse.
We do tracethis alley up and down.

Mark

A stone or post used to indicate position and guide travellers.

Trace

To walk; to go; to travel.
Not wont on foot with heavy arms to trace.

Mark

(archaic) A type of small region or principality.

Trace

A just detectable amount;
He speaks French with a trace of an accent

Mark

(historical) A common, or area of common land, especially among early Germanic peoples.

Trace

An indication that something has been present;
There wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim
A tincture of condescension

Mark

(heading) Characteristic, sign, visible impression.

Trace

A suggestion of some quality;
There was a touch of sarcasm in his tone
He detected a ghost of a smile on her face

Mark

An omen; a symptomatic indicator of something.

Trace

Drawing created by tracing

Mark

A characteristic feature.
A good sense of manners is the mark of a true gentleman.

Trace

Either of two lines that connect a horse's harness to a wagon or other vehicle or to a whiffletree

Mark

A visible impression or sign; a blemish, scratch, or stain, whether accidental or intentional.

Trace

A visible mark (as a footprint) left by the passage of person or animal or vehicle

Mark

A sign or brand on a person.

Trace

Follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something;
We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba
Trace the student's progress

Mark

A written character or sign.
The font wasn't able to render all the diacritical marks properly.

Trace

Make a mark or lines on a surface;
Draw a line
Trace the outline of a figure in the sand

Mark

A stamp or other indication of provenance, quality etc.
With eggs, you need to check for the quality mark before you buy.

Trace

To go back over again;
We retraced the route we took last summer
Trace your path

Mark

(obsolete) Resemblance, likeness, image.

Trace

Pursue or chase relentlessly;
The hunters traced the deer into the woods
The detectives hounded the suspect until they found the him

Mark

A particular design or make of an item now usually with following numeral.
I am proud to present my patented travelator, mark two.

Trace

Discover traces of;
She traced the circumstances of her birth

Mark

A score for finding the correct answer, or other academic achievement; the sum of such points gained as out of a possible total.
What mark did you get in your history test?

Trace

Make one's course or travel along a path; travel or pass over, around, or along;
The children traced along the edge of the drak forest
The women traced the pasture

Mark

(heading) Indicator of position, objective etc.

Trace

Copy by following the lines of the original drawing on a transparent sheet placed upon it; make a tracing of;
Trace a design
Trace a pattern

Mark

A target for shooting at with a projectile.

Trace

Read with difficulty;
Can you decipher this letter?
The archeologist traced the hieroglyphs

Mark

An indication or sign used for reference or measurement.
I filled the bottle up to the 500ml mark.

Trace

A very small quantity or sign of something.
There's a trace of sugar in this recipe.

Mark

The target or intended victim of a swindle, fixed game or con game.

Trace

A mark, sign, or evidence left by something that has passed.
Archaeologists found traces of an ancient civilization.

Mark

(obsolete) The female genitals.

Trace

A faint memory or remnant.
There's only a trace left of the once-great empire.

Mark

(Rugby football, Australian rules football) A catch of the ball directly from a kick of 10 metres or more without having been touched in transit, resulting in a free kick.

Mark

(sports) The line indicating an athlete's starting-point.

Mark

A score for a sporting achievement.

Mark

An official note that is added to a record kept about someone's behavior or performance.

Mark

(cooking) A specified level on a scale denoting gas-powered oven temperatures.
Now put the pastry in at 450 degrees, or mark 8.

Mark

(product design/engineering) The model number of a device; a device model.
The Mark I system had poor radar, and the Mark II was too expensive; regardless, most antiaircraft direction remained the responsibility of the Mark I Eyeball (as the jocular phrase calls it): that is, the operator's eye.

Mark

Limit or standard of action or fact.
To be within the mark
To come up to the mark

Mark

Badge or sign of honour, rank, or official station.

Mark

(archaic) Preeminence; high position.
Patricians of mark
A fellow of no mark

Mark

(logic) A characteristic or essential attribute; a differential.

Mark

(nautical) One of the bits of leather or coloured bunting placed upon a sounding line at intervals of from two to five fathoms. (The unmarked fathoms are called "deeps".)

Mark

(heading) Attention.

Mark

(archaic) Attention, notice.
His last comment is particularly worthy of mark.

Mark

Importance, noteworthiness. Generally in postmodifier “of mark”.

Mark

(obsolete) Regard; respect.

Mark

A measure of weight (especially for gold and silver), once used throughout Europe, equivalent to 8 oz.

Mark

An English and Scottish unit of currency (originally valued at one mark weight of silver), equivalent to 13 shillings and fourpence.

Mark

Any of various European monetary units, especially the base unit of currency of (West) Germany between 1948 and 2002, equal to 100 pfennigs.

Mark

A coin worth one mark.

Mark

To put a mark on (something); to make (something) recognizable by a mark; to label or write on (something).
To mark a box or bale of merchandise
To mark clothing with one's name

Mark

To leave a mark (often an undesirable or unwanted one) on (something).
See where this pencil has marked the paper.
The floor was marked with wine and blood.

Mark

(figurative) To have a long-lasting negative impact on (someone or something).

Mark

To create an indication of (a location).
She folded over the corner of the page to mark where she left off reading.
Some animals mark their territory by urinating.

Mark

To be an indication of (something); to show where (something) is located.
This monument marks the spot where Wolfe died.
A bell marked the end of visiting hours.

Mark

To indicate (something) in writing or by other symbols.
Prices are marked on individual items.
In her Bible, the words of Christ were marked in red.

Mark

To create (a mark) on a surface.

Mark

To celebrate or acknowledge (an event) through an action of some kind.
The national holiday is marked by fireworks.

Mark

(of things) To identify (someone as a particular type of person or as having a particular role).
His courage and energy marked him as a leader.

Mark

(of people) To assign (someone) to a particular category or class.

Mark

(of people) To choose or intend (someone) for a particular end or purpose.

Mark

To be a point in time or space at which something takes place; to accompany or be accompanied by (an event, action, etc.); to coincide with.
The creek marks the boundary between the two farms.
That summer marked the beginning of her obsession with cycling.

Mark

To be typical or characteristic of (something).

Mark

To distinguish (one person or thing from another).

Mark

To focus one's attention on (something or someone); to pay attention to, to take note of.
Mark my words: that boy’s up to no good.

Mark

(dated) To become aware of (something) through the physical senses.

Mark

To hold (someone) in one's line of sight.

Mark

To indicate the correctness of and give a score to (a school assignment, exam answers, etc.).
The teacher had to spend her weekend marking all the tests.

Mark

To record that (someone) has a particular status.
To mark a student absent.

Mark

To keep account of; to enumerate and register; to keep score.
To mark the points in a game of billiards or a card game

Mark

(sports) To follow a player not in possession of the ball when defending, to prevent them receiving a pass easily.

Mark

(Australian rules football) To catch the ball directly from a kick of 15 metres or more without having been touched in transit, resulting in a free kick.

Mark

(golf) To put a marker in the place of one's ball.

Mark

(singing) To sing softly, sometimes an octave lower than usual, in order to protect one's voice during a rehearsal.

Mark

Alternative form of march.
Mark time, mark!
Forward, mark!

Mark

A license of reprisals. See Marque.

Mark

An old weight and coin. See Marc.

Mark

The unit of monetary account of the German Empire, equal to 23.8 cents of United States money (1913); the equivalent of one hundred pfennigs. Also, a silver coin of this value. The unit was retained by subsequent German states up to the time of the Federal Republic of Germany. In 1995, the value was approximately 65 cents American. In 1999 it began to be superseded by the Euro as a unit of currency in Germany and throughout much of the European union.

Mark

A visible sign or impression made or left upon anything; esp., a line, point, stamp, figure, or the like, drawn or impressed, so as to attract the attention and convey some information or intimation; a token; a trace.
The Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

Mark

A character or device put on an article of merchandise by the maker to show by whom it was made; a trade-mark.
The mark of the artisan is found upon the most ancient fabrics that have come to light.

Mark

A fixed object serving for guidance, as of a ship, a traveler, a surveyor, etc.; as, a seamark, a landmark.

Mark

A trace, dot, line, imprint, or discoloration, although not regarded as a token or sign; a scratch, scar, stain, etc.; as, this pencil makes a fine mark.
I have some marks of yours upon my pate.

Mark

An evidence of presence, agency, or influence; a significative token; a symptom; a trace; specifically, a permanent impression of one's activity or character.
The confusion of tongues was a mark of separation.

Mark

That toward which a missile is directed; a thing aimed at; what one seeks to hit or reach.
France was a fairer mark to shoot at than Ireland.
Whate'er the motive, pleasure is the mark.

Mark

Attention, regard, or respect.
As much in mock as mark.

Mark

Limit or standard of action or fact; as, to be within the mark; to come up to the mark.

Mark

Badge or sign of honor, rank, or official station.
In the official marks invested, youAnon do meet the Senate.

Mark

Preëminence; high position; as, patricians of mark; a fellow of no mark.

Mark

A characteristic or essential attribute; a differential.

Mark

A number or other character used in registering; as, examination marks; a mark for tardiness.

Mark

Image; likeness; hence, those formed in one's image; children; descendants.

Mark

One of the bits of leather or colored bunting which are placed upon a sounding line at intervals of from two to five fathoms. The unmarked fathoms are called "deeps."

Mark

To put a mark upon; to affix a significant mark to; to make recognizable by a mark; as, to mark a box or bale of merchandise; to mark clothing.

Mark

To be a mark upon; to designate; to indicate; - used literally and figuratively; as, this monument marks the spot where Wolfe died; his courage and energy marked him for a leader.

Mark

To leave a trace, scratch, scar, or other mark, upon, or any evidence of action; as, a pencil marks paper; his hobnails marked the floor.

Mark

To keep account of; to enumerate and register; as, to mark the points in a game of billiards or cards.

Mark

To notice or observe; to give attention to; to take note of; to remark; to heed; to regard; as, mark my words.

Mark

To take particular notice; to observe critically; to note; to remark.
Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief.

Mark

A number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance);
She made good marks in algebra
Grade A milk
What was your score on your homework?

Mark

A distinguishing symbol;
The owner's mark was on all the sheep

Mark

A reference point to shoot at;
His arrow hit the mark

Mark

A visible indication made on a surface;
Some previous reader had covered the pages with dozens of marks
Paw prints were everywhere

Mark

The impression created by doing something unusual or extraordinary that people notice and remember;
It was in London that he made his mark
He left an indelible mark on the American theater

Mark

A symbol of disgrace or infamy;
And the Lord set a mark upon Cain

Mark

Formerly the basic unit of money in Germany

Mark

Apostle and companion of Saint Peter; assumed to be the author of the second Gospel

Mark

A person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of

Mark

A written or printed symbol (as for punctuation);
His answer was just a punctuation mark

Mark

A perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened);
He showed signs of strain
They welcomed the signs of spring

Mark

The shortest of the four Gospels in the New Testament

Mark

An indication of damage

Mark

Marking consisting of crossing lines

Mark

Something that exactly succeeds in achieving its goal;
The new advertising campaign was a bell ringer
Scored a bull's eye
Hit the mark
The president's speech was a home run

Mark

Attach a tag or label to;
Label these bottles

Mark

Designate as if by a mark;
This sign marks the border
He indicated where the border ended

Mark

Be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense;
His modesty distinguishes him form his peers

Mark

Mark by some ceremony or observation;
We marked the anniversary of his death

Mark

Make or leave a mark on;
Mark the trail so that we can find our way back

Mark

To accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful;
He denounced the government action
She was stigmatized by society because she had a child out of wedlock

Mark

Notice or perceive;
She noted that someone was following her
Mark my words

Mark

Mark with a scar;
The skin disease scarred his face permanently

Mark

Make small marks into the surface of;
Score the clay before firing it

Mark

Establish as the highest level or best performance;
Set a record

Mark

Make underscoring marks

Mark

Remove from a list;
Cross the name of the dead person off the list

Mark

Put a check mark on or next to;
Please check each name on the list
Tick off the items

Mark

Assign a grade or rank to, according to one's evaluation;
Grade tests
Score the SAT essays
Mark homework

Mark

Insert punctuation marks into

Mark

A noticeable sign or impression on a surface.
The coffee left a mark on the tablecloth.

Mark

A target or goal.
The athlete set a new mark for the high jump.

Common Curiosities

What's the verb form of "Trace"?

"Trace" itself can be a verb, meaning to track or outline.

Are "Mark" and "Trace" synonyms?

They can be related in meaning, but "Mark" is more pronounced, while "Trace" is subtle or minuscule.

Can "Trace" refer to a quantity?

Yes, it can indicate a very small amount of something.

Is a birthmark a type of mark?

Yes, it's a mark present on the skin from birth.

Can "Mark" be a name?

Yes, "Mark" is also a common first name.

How is "Mark" used in academics?

It can refer to a grade or score on an assignment or test.

What might a "trace element" refer to?

It's a very small quantity of an element in a sample.

Is a "Mark" always visible?

Typically, yes. It refers to a noticeable sign or indication.

Can "Trace" mean to follow a path?

Yes, it can mean to track or follow by evidence or signs.

Is "Trace" always about something small?

Generally, yes. It often indicates a minuscule amount or sign of something.

What does it mean to "leave no trace"?

It means to leave no evidence or sign of one's presence.

Which word implies a more subtle presence?

"Trace" indicates a more subtle or faint presence.

What's a benchmark?

It's a standard or point of reference against which things can be compared.

Is "traceback" related to "Trace"?

Yes, "traceback" means to trace something back to its origin.

Can "Mark" be a verb?

Yes, "to mark" can mean to make a visible sign or impression.

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Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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