march

I. noun Etymology: Middle English marche, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German marha boundary — more at mark Date: 14th century a border region ; frontier; especially a district originally set up to defend a boundary — usually used in plural <

the Welsh marches

> II. intransitive verb Date: 14th century to have common borders or frontiers <

a region that marches with Canada in the north and the Pacific in the west

> III. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French marchier to trample, march, from Old French, to trample, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German marcōn to mark Date: 15th century intransitive verb 1. to move along steadily usually with a rhythmic stride and in step with others 2. a. to move in a direct purposeful manner ; proceed b. to make steady progress ; advance <

time marches on

> 3. to stand in orderly array suggestive of marching transitive verb 1. to cause to march <

marched the children off to bed

> 2. to cover by marching ; traverse <

marched 10 miles

> IV. noun Date: circa 1572 1. a musical composition that is usually in duple or quadruple time with a strongly accentuated beat and that is designed or suitable to accompany marching 2. a. (1) the action of marching (2) the distance covered within a specific period of time by marching (3) a regular measured stride or rhythmic step used in marching b. forward movement ; progress <

the march of a movie toward the climax

> 3. an organized procession of demonstrators who are supporting or protesting something • marchlike adjective