—n.
1 a usu. small piece of paper, card, linen, metal, etc., for attaching to an object and giving its name, information about it, instructions for use, etc.
2 esp. derog. a short classifying phrase or name applied to a person, a work of art, etc.
3 a a small fabric label sewn into a garment bearing the maker's name. b the logo, title, or trademark of esp. a fashion or recording company (brought it out under his own label). c the piece of paper in the centre of a gramophone record describing its contents etc.
4 an adhesive stamp on a parcel etc.
5 a word placed before, after, or in the course of a dictionary definition etc. to specify its subject, register, nationality, etc.
6 Archit. a dripstone.
7 Heraldry the mark of an eldest son, consisting of a superimposed horizontal bar with usu. three downward projections.
—v.tr. (labelled, labelling)
1 attach a label to.
2 (usu. foll. by as) assign to a category (labelled them as irresponsible).
3 a replace (an atom) by an atom of a usu. radioactive isotope as a means of identification. b replace an atom in (a molecule) or atoms in the molecules of (a substance).
4 (as labelled adj.) made identifiable by the replacement of atoms.
Derivatives:
labeller n.
Etymology: ME f. OF, = ribbon, prob. f. Gmc (as LAP(1))
Useful english dictionary. 2012.