As of 2019, Starbucks opens a new store every 15 hours in China. The coffee chain has grown by 700% over the past decade.
EARMARK
hallmark, trademark, earmark, stylemark
(noun) a distinctive characteristic or attribute
earmark
(noun) identification mark on the ear of a domestic animal
allow, appropriate, earmark, set aside, reserve
(verb) give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause; “I will earmark this money for your research”; “She sets aside time for meditation every day”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
earmark (third-person singular simple present earmarks, present participle earmarking, simple past and past participle earmarked)
(transitive) To mark (as of sheep) by slitting the ear.
(transitive, by extension) To specify or set aside for a particular purpose, to allocate.
Synonyms
• (set aside for a particular purpose): appropriate, sepose; see also set apart
Noun
earmark (plural earmarks)
A mark or deformation of the ear of an animal, intended to indicate ownership.
(US, politics) The designation of specific projects in appropriations of funding for general programs.
A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.
Coordinate terms
• (US politics): phonemark
Source: Wiktionary
Ear"mark`, n.
1. A mark on the ear of sheep, oxen, dogs, etc., as by cropping or slitting.
2. A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark. Money is said to have no earmark. Wharton. Flying, he [a slave] should be described by the rounding of his head, and his earmark. Robynson (More's Utopia). A set of intellectual ideas . . . have earmarks upon them, no tokens of a particular proprietor. Burrow.
Ear"mark`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earmarked; p. pr. & vb. n. Earmarking.]
Definition: To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
31 March 2025
IMPROVISED
(adjective) done or made using whatever is available; “crossed the river on improvised bridges”; “the survivors used jury-rigged fishing gear”; “the rock served as a makeshift hammer”
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