label

—labeler, n.

/lay"beuhl/, n., v., labeled, labeling or (esp. Brit.) labelled, labelling.

n.

1. a slip of paper, cloth, or other material, marked or inscribed, for attachment to something to indicate its manufacturer, nature, ownership, destination, etc.

2. a short word or phrase descriptive of a person, group, intellectual movement, etc.

3. a word or phrase indicating that what follows belongs in a particular category or classification: The following definition has the label "Archit."

4. Archit. a molding or dripstone over a door or window, esp. one that extends horizontally across the top of the opening and vertically downward for a certain distance at the sides.

5. a brand or trademark, esp. of a manufacturer of phonograph records, tape cassettes, etc.: She records under a new label.

6. the manufacturer using such a label: a major label that has produced some of the best recordings of the year.

7. Heraldry. a narrow horizontal strip with a number of downward extensions of rectangular or dovetail form, usually placed in chief as the cadency mark of an eldest son.

8. Obs. a strip or narrow piece of anything.

v.t.

9. to affix a label to; mark with a label.

10. to designate or describe by or on a label: The bottle was labeled poison.

11. to put in a certain class; classify.

12. Also, radiolabel. Chem. to incorporate a radioactive or heavy isotope into (a molecule) in order to make traceable.

[1275-1325; ME < MF: ribbon, perh. < Gmc. See LAP¹]

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