Video

Blog: Words at Play

My Faves

Dictionary

¹march

noun \ˈmärch\

Definition of MARCH

: a border region : frontier; especially : a district originally set up to defend a boundary —usually used in plural <the Welsh marches>

Origin of MARCH

Middle English marche, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German marha boundary — more at mark

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with MARCH

arch, larch, parch, starch

²march

verb

Definition of MARCH

intransitive verb

: to have common borders or frontiers <a region that marches with Canada in the north and the Pacific in the west>

First Known Use of MARCH

14th century

³march

verb \ˈmärch, imperatively often ˈhärch in the military\

Definition of MARCH

intransitive verb

: to move along steadily usually with a rhythmic stride and in step with others

a : to move in a direct purposeful manner : proceed

b : to make steady progress : advance <time marches on>

: to stand in orderly array suggestive of marching

transitive verb

: to cause to march <marched the children off to bed>

: to cover by marching : traverse <marched 10 miles>

Origin of MARCH

Middle English, from Middle French marchier to trample, march, from Old French, to trample, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German marcōn to mark

First Known Use: 15th century

⁴march

noun \ˈmärch\

Definition of MARCH

: a musical composition that is usually in duple or quadruple time with a strongly accentuated beat and that is designed or suitable to accompany marching

a (1) : the action of marching (2) : the distance covered within a specific period of time by marching (3) : a regular measured stride or rhythmic step used in marching

b : forward movement : progress <the march of a movie toward the climax>

: an organized procession of demonstrators who are supporting or protesting something

— march·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

— on the march

: moving steadily : advancing

First Known Use of MARCH

circa 1572

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue

March

noun \ˈmärch\

: the third month of the year

Full Definition of MARCH

: the third month of the Gregorian calendar

See March defined for English-language learners

See March defined for kids

Origin of MARCH

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin martius, from martius of Mars, from Mart-, Mars

First Known Use: 13th century

Other Calendar Terms

antedate, estival, gloaming, luster, sesquicentennial

Rhymes with MARCH

arch, larch, march, parch, starch

MARCH Defined for Kids

¹march

verb \ˈmärch\

marchedmarch·ing

Definition of MARCH for Kids

: to move or cause to move along with a steady regular step especially with others <Our band will march in a parade.>

: to make steady progress <Science marches on.>

— march·er noun

²march

noun

Definition of MARCH for Kids

: the action of moving along with a steady regular step especially with others

: an organized walk by a large group of people to support or protest something

: the distance covered in marching <a long day's march>

: a regular and organized way that soldiers walk

: a musical piece in a lively rhythm with a strong beat that is suitable to march to

March

noun \ˈmärch\

Definition of MARCH for Kids

: the third month of the year

Word History of MARCH

The English word March came from the Latin name for the month, Martius, which in turn came from Mars, the name of the Roman god of war and farming. The planet Mars also got its name from this god.

Medical Dictionary

march

noun \ˈmärch\

Medical Definition of MARCH

: the progression of epileptic activity through the motor centers of the cerebral cortex that is manifested in localized convulsions in first one and then an adjacent part of the body <the Jacksonian march of convulsions>