label

noun

la·bel | \ ˈlā-bəl

Definition of label

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 archaic : band, fillet specifically : one attached to a document to hold an appended seal

2 : a heraldic charge that consists of a narrow horizontal band with usually three pendants

3a : a slip (as of paper or cloth) inscribed and affixed to something for identification or description The name is prominently displayed on the label.

b : written or printed matter accompanying an article to furnish identification or other information Read the warning label before taking any medicine.

c : a descriptive or identifying word or phrase: such as

(1) : epithet acquired the label of "playboy"

(2) : a word or phrase used with a dictionary definition to provide additional information The label obsolete is abbreviated obs.

d : a usually radioactive isotope used in labeling

4 : an adhesive stamp (as for postage or revenue)

5a(1) : a brand of commercial recordings issued under a usually trademarked name

(2) : a recording so issued

(3) : a company issuing such recordings The band has made records for several different labels.

b : the brand name of a retail store selling clothing, a clothing manufacturer, or a fashion designer She only buys clothes with a designer label.

label

verb

labeled or labelled; labeling or labelling\ ˈlā-b(ə-)liŋ

Definition of label (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to affix a label to labeled the switches so as not to confuse them

b : to describe or designate with or as if with a label labels his photos with the date and place they were taken

2a : to distinguish (an element or atom) by using an isotope (see isotope sense 1) distinctive in some manner (as in mass or radioactivity)

b : to distinguish (something, such as a compound or cell) by introducing a traceable constituent (such as a dye or labeled atom)

Other Words from label Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about label

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Synonyms for label

Synonyms: Noun

marker, tag, ticket

Synonyms: Verb

mark, tag, ticket

Examples of label in a Sentence

Noun

The name is prominently displayed on the label. You should read the warning label before you take any medicine. The word was given the label “obsolete.” Some people describe him as “selfish,” but he doesn't deserve that label. Once you give people labels, it's hard to see them as individuals. The band has made records for several different labels in their career.

Verb

Be sure to carefully label the switches so that you don't confuse them. He labels his photographs with the date and place they were taken.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Which sounds like great raw material for a fashion label. — Luke Leitch, Vogue, "Meet Kirin’s Peggy Gou: The DJ Turned Designer Mixing Fashion and Club Culture," 28 Feb. 2019 The videos were originally posted on the Facebook page of Forest Records, a Thai indie label that recorded a song by a band in which Dr. Phak performs. — New York Times, "8 Saved, 5 to Go in Thai Cave Rescue," 9 July 2018 Messika Hoop Earrings Jewelry designer Valérie Messika, of Parisian label Messika, tapped into the world of myth and fairy tales to design her Once Upon a Time collection, creating pieces inspired by the stories that mesmerized her as a child. — The Editors, WSJ, "WSJ. Magazine’s Valentine’s Day Gift Guide," 11 Feb. 2019 Ghostly International is one of the world’s premier electronic music labels. — Andrew Webster, The Verge, "Analogue’s limited edition SNES has custom sounds from your favorite Ghostly artists," 3 Dec. 2018 Can Challenge Take tin cans of food around the house and rip off all the labels. — Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, "25 Fun Challenges to Play With Your Friends," 27 Nov. 2018 The patchwork nature of the label means that many journalists and pundits are often working off different definitions. — Ed Stetzer, Vox, "Fellow evangelicals: stop falling for Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric," 6 Nov. 2018 Johnny Diloné, Maricopa County Environmental Services spokesman, said health inspectors ask during their regular restaurant inspections to see the labels of the products that raw cookie dough outlets use to verify the ingredients. — Gwen Ashley Walters, azcentral, "Edible cookie dough: Where in metro Phoenix to buy dough that's safe to eat," 13 July 2018 And it is not published by Microsoft; rather, it will be published by Private Division, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive. — Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, "Obsidian Entertainment finally announces its Fallout: New Vegas successor," 7 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Look for products labeled sulfate-free, like L'Oréal Paris' EverPure pair. — Leah Melby Clinton, Marie Claire, "Color Your Hair? Four Things You Should Never Do in the Shower," 16 Nov. 2018 In the basement, there are cans of paint stacked on the shelf, labeled by location. ... — Jenny Xie, Curbed, "Postmodernism trailblazer Robert Venturi dies at age 93," 20 Sep. 2018 When a person is diagnosed with any type of illness, they are forever labeled. — Nancy Richardson Fischer, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Power of Not Naming My Disorder," 3 Dec. 2018 Though his debut is called Casablanca Tennis Club, Tajer rejects it being labeled as sporty or as streetwear. — Laird Borrelli-persson, Vogue, "Casablanca, a New Menswear Line From Paris, Serves Up High Style With Après-Sport Ease," 30 Oct. 2018 Sometimes they’re labeled with calorie information, too. — Abby Langer, SELF, "I'm a Registered Dietitian and Here’s Why I Don’t Follow 'What I Eat in a Day' Social Media," 2 Oct. 2018 Low-impedance speakers put more stress on speaker wire, and not all speaker wire is intended for in-wall installations (though it should be clearly labeled either way). — Don Melanson, Popular Mechanics, "The Setup: Building a Great Home Entertainment System," 18 July 2018 Previously, all plastics items were deemed recyclable in Sacramento, whichever number they were labeled. — Jordan Cutler-tietjen, sacbee, "Do you take recycling seriously? Here's how Sacramento's waste rules are changing," 10 July 2018 The former charges could prove costly since he's labeled as an ex-felon. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, "Mozzy Arrested for Gun Possession in Las Vegas: Report," 9 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'label.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near label

la belle dame sans merci

Statistics for label

Last Updated

11 Mar 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for label

The first known use of label was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for label

label

noun

English Language Learners Definition of label

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a piece of paper, cloth, or similar material that is attached to something to identify or describe it

: a word or phrase that describes or identifies something or someone

: a company that produces musical recordings

label

verb

English Language Learners Definition of label (Entry 2 of 2)

: to put a word or name on something to describe or identify it : to attach a label to (something)

: to name or describe (someone or something) in a specified way : to give a label to (someone or something)

See the full definition for label in the English Language Learners Dictionary

label

noun

la·bel | \ ˈlā-bəl

Kids Definition of label

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a slip (as of paper or cloth) attached to something to identify or describe it

2 : a word or phrase that describes or names something or someone a part-of-speech label

label

verb

labeled or labelled; labeling or labelling

Kids Definition of label (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to put a word or words on (something) to identify or describe it Be sure to label your belongings.

2 : to name or describe with or as if with a label The team was labeled “the Dream Team.”

label

noun

la·bel | \ ˈlā-bəl

Medical Definition of label

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a usually radioactive isotope used in labeling

label

transitive verb

labeled or labelled; labeling or labelling\ ˈlā-b(ə-)liŋ

Medical Definition of label (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to distinguish (an element or atom) by using an isotope distinctive in some manner (as in mass or radioactivity) for tracing through chemical reactions or biological processes

2 : to distinguish (as a compound or cell) by introducing a traceable constituent (as a dye or labeled atom)