verb

earmark

to earmark, to set aside, to designate

The money was earmarked for a new school.

The money was earmarked for a new school.

They earmarked the funds for research.

They earmarked the funds for research.

((sth.)) ((for sth.)) to set aside (sth.) for a particular purpose They earmarked the funds for research.

Synonyms: allocate, set aside, designate, reserve

From 'ear' + 'mark'. Originally a mark on an animal's ear to show ownership, it came to mean setting something aside for a purpose.

Imagine putting a physical 'mark' on a pile of money, like marking an animal's 'ear', to show what it's for.

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