ˈleɪbl n. & v. --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. øølabeller n. [ME f.
OF, =
ribbon, prob. f. Gmc (as LAP(1))]
