Definition of "marbling" [mar•bling]

• A mottling or streaking that resembles marble. (noun)
• The process or operation of giving something the surface appearance of marble. (noun)
• The decorative imitation of marble patterns printed on page edges and endpapers of books. (noun)
• Flecks or thin strips of fat, especially when evenly distributed in a cut of meat. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The more "marbling" - the amount of fat distributed evenly among the muscle - the higher the grade from the United States Department of Agriculture."
• "More tender cuts of meat have white streaks of fat, called marbling, throughout."
• "A bull named Yasufuku was one of the most important and famous sires in the history of breeding Wagyu cattle due to his contributions to the improvement of the quality of marbling, which is a major characteristic of Wagyu beef."