Marking is the act of making visible marks on something, or the marks themselves. A teacher marking papers uses a red pen to show corrections and comments. When you're marking your place in a book, you might fold down a corner or use a bookmark to remember where you stopped reading.

In nature, animals use marking to communicate and establish territory. A dog marks its territory by leaving scent markers. A cat might mark furniture by rubbing against it. Birds have distinctive markings on their feathers: stripes, spots, or patches of color that help identify different species.

The word also appears in sports. In basketball, when you're marking an opponent, you're staying close to guard them. In soccer, defenders mark opposing players to prevent them from receiving passes or scoring.

Markings (the noun form) are the visible patterns or symbols on something. The markings on a monarch butterfly's wings warn predators that it tastes bad. A zebra's markings are its distinctive black and white stripes. Road markings are the painted lines that guide traffic.

In school, marking can also mean grading or evaluating work. British students often talk about their marks (what Americans call grades), and teachers spend time marking assignments to assess how well students understood the material.