earmark Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun identification mark on the ear of a domestic animal
  2. noun a distinctive characteristic or attribute
    hallmark; trademark; stylemark.
  3. verb give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause
    set aside; appropriate; allow; reserve.
    • I will earmark this money for your research
    • She sets aside time for meditation every day

WordNet

Ear"mark` noun
Definitions
  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` transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Earmarked ; present participle & verbal noun Earmarking
Definitions
  1. To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.

Webster 1913