marmorean
- adjective
- /mɑːrˈmɔːriən/
- Literature
- Her skin had a marmorean quality, smooth and pale.
Examples
-
The statue had a marmorean sheen that made it almost lifelike.
-
The architect selected tiles with a marmorean finish for the grand foyer.
-
Her expression was cold and marmorean, betraying no emotion.
-
The statue had a marmorean sheen that caught the light beautifully.
-
The statue had a marmorean sheen that made it look as if it were carved from marble.
-
The architect selected tiles with a marmorean finish to evoke the elegance of marble in the home.
-
Her skin had a marmorean quality, smooth and luminous like polished marble.
Synonyms
Having streaks and veins of another color, like marble or fat in meat
Smooth and pale like a statue carved from marble
Having a smooth surface with streaks like marble
Having streaks or swirls of color like real marble
Having a surface like marble with light and dark lines
How Marble-Like
Surface Forms
Morphology
marmorean = marble (semi-transparent) = marmor + ean
Meaning 'of or like marble' is clear, but the stem 'marmor-' differs from the common English form 'marble', which may obscure the connection for learners.
Etymology
The word marmorean comes from an old word for marble, which means 'hard, shiny stone'. So, something marmorean looks or feels like marble: cold, smooth and bright, which is why we describe faces, statues, or floors as marmorean.