Mar

/mɑr/

Meaning & Definition

noun
a blemish or scar.
He proudly displayed the mar on his arm from his adventurous childhood.
verb
to impair the quality or appearance of; to spoil.
The graffiti on the wall marred the beauty of the historic building.
to damage or disfigure something.
The storm marred the landscape with fallen trees and debris.
to detract from; to spoil the perfection of.
The slight scratch on the surface did not mar the overall value of the painting.
to make less perfect; to ruin.
Her constant criticism marred his confidence.

Etymology

Middle English: from Old French 'marer', from Latin 'mārare' meaning 'to ruin'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

mar someone's plans
to disrupt or ruin someone's intentions or arrangements.
marred by imperfections
affected by flaws or defects.

Related Words

blemish
a small mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something.
defect
a shortcoming, imperfection, or lack.

Slang Meanings

to mess up or spoil something in an informal context
Don't mar the surprise party with unnecessary details.