[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

earmark \ear"mark`\ =er"maumrk`, n.
   1. a mark on the ear of sheep, oxen, dogs, etc., as by
      cropping or slitting.
      1913 webster

   2. a mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.
      1913 webster

            money is said to have no earmark.     --wharton.
      1913 webster

            flying, he a slave should be described by the
            rounding of his head, and his earmark. --robynson
                                                  more's
                                                  utopia.
      1913 webster

            a set of intellectual ideas . . . have earmarks upon
            them, no tokens of a particular proprietor.
                                                  --burrow.
      1913 webster

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

earmark \ear"mark`\, v. t. imp.  p. p. earmarked; p. pr. 
   vb. n. earmarking.
   1. to mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.
      1913 webster

   2. to designate or reserve for a specific purpose; as, the
      alumni fund was earmarked for dormitory construction.
      pjc
see also:
earmarked earmarking 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

earmark
     n 1: identification mark on the ear of a domestic animal
     2: a distinctive characteristic or attribute syn: hallmark,
        trademark, stylemark
     v : give or assign a share of money or time to a particular
         person or cause; "i will earmark this money for your
         research" syn: allow, appropriate, set aside, reserve
see also:
hallmark trademark stylemark allow appropriate set aside 
reserve 

[4] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

156 moby thesaurus words for "earmark":
   allocate, allot, appoint, appropriate to, aroma, assign, assign to,
   attribute, badge, banner, be characteristic, birthmark, blaze,
   blemish, blotch, brand, cachet, cast, caste mark, character,
   characteristic, characterize, check, checkmark, cicatrix,
   configuration, cut, dapple, define, demarcate, describe, destine,
   detail, device, differentia, differential, differentiate,
   discoloration, distinctive feature, distinguish, dot, engraving,
   fate, feature, figure, flavor, fleck, flick, freckle, gash,
   graving, gust, hack, hallmark, idiocrasy, idiosyncrasy, image,
   impress, impression, index, indicant, indicator, individualism,
   insignia, jot, keynote, label, lentigo, lineaments, lot, macula,
   make assignments, mannerism, mark, mark off, mark out,
   mark out for, marking, measure, mold, mole, mottle, nature, nevus,
   nick, notch, note, odor, ordain, particularity, patch, peculiarity,
   picture, point, polka dot, portion off, prick, property, puncture,
   quality, quirk, representation, representative, reserve, restrict,
   restrict to, savor, scar, scarification, schedule, score, scotch,
   scratch, scratching, seal, set, set apart, set aside, set off,
   set the pace, set the tone, shape, sigil, sign, signal, signature,
   singularity, smack, sound the keynote, specialty, speck, speckle,
   splash, splotch, spot, stain, stamp, stigma, strawberry mark,
   sure sign, symptom, tab, tag, taint, tang, taste, tattoo,
   tattoo mark, telltale sign, tick, ticket, tittle, token, trait,
   trick, watermark

Earmark >> E Words
Earmark, definition of term: Earmark
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