label

Alternative forms

• labell (non-standard)

Etymology

From Middle English label (“narrow band, strip of cloth”), from Old French label, lambel (Modern French: lambeau), from Old Frankish *labba (“torn piece of cloth”), from Proto-Germanic *lappǭ, *lappô (“cloth stuff, rag, scraps, flap, dewlap, lobe, rabbit ear”), from Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“blade”). Cognate with Old High German lappa (“rag, piece of cloth”), Old English læppa (“skirt, flap of a garment”). More at lap.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈleɪbəl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪbəl

Noun

label (plural labels)

1. A small ticket or sign giving information about something to which it is attached or intended to be attached.

   Synonyms: sign, tag, ticket

   We laughed at her because the label was still on her new sweater.

   The label says this silk scarf should not be washed in the washing machine.

   Although the label priced this poster at three pounds, I got it for two.

2. A name given to something or someone to categorise them as part of a particular social group.

   Synonyms: category, pigeonhole

   Ever since he started going to the rock club, he's been given the label "waster".

3. (music) A company that sells records.

   Synonym: record label

   The label signed the band after hearing a demo tape.

4. (computing) A user-defined alias for a numerical designation, the reverse of an enumeration.

   Storage devices can be given by label or ID.

5. (computing) A named place in source code that can be jumped to using a GOTO or equivalent construct.
6. (heraldry) A charge resembling the strap crossing the horse’s chest from which pendants are hung.

   Synonym: lambel

7. (obsolete) A tassel.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Huloet to this entry?)

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Fuller to this entry?)

8. A piece of writing added to something, such as a codicil appended to a will.
9. A brass rule with sights, formerly used with a circumferentor to take altitudes.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Knight to this entry?)

10. (architecture) The projecting moulding by the sides, and over the tops, of openings in mediaeval architecture.

    (Can we find and add a quotation of Arch. Pub. Soc. to this entry?)

11. In mediaeval art, the representation of a band or scroll containing an inscription.

    (Can we find and add a quotation of Fairholt to this entry?)

Verb

label (third-person singular simple present labels, present participle (UK) labelling or (US) labeling, simple past and past participle (UK) labelled or (US) labeled)

1. (transitive) To put a label (a ticket or sign) on (something).

   The shop assistant labeled all the products in the shop.

2. (transitive) To give a label to (someone or something) in order to categorise that person or thing.

   He's been unfairly labeled as a cheat, although he's only ever cheated once.

   • 1972 December 29, Richard Schickel, “Masterpieces underrated and overlooked”, in Life, volume 73, number 25, page 22:

     A friend of mine who runs an intellectual magazine was grousing about his movie critic, complaining that though the fellow had liked The Godfather (page 58), he had neglected to label it clearly as a masterpiece.

3. (biochemistry) To replace specific atoms by their isotope in order to track the presence or movement of this isotope through a reaction, metabolic pathway or cell.
4. (biochemistry) To add a detectable substance, either transiently or permanently, to a biological substance in order to track the presence of the label-substance combination either in situ or in vitro
   • May 2015 — "Protein binder woes" (editorial), Nature Methods, 12(5): 373.

     They may be used to label and image a protein within tissue, to isolate cells on the basis of marker expression, or to physically capture a protein from a complex biological mixture....

References

• label in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• label in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Anagrams

• Abell, Beall, Bella, be-all

Etymology

Borrowed from English label.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈleːbəl/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

label n (plural labels, diminutive labeltje n)

1. quality label

   Max Havelaar is het bekendste fair-tradelabel.

   Max Havelaar is the most well-known fair-trade label.

2. music label

Anagrams

• balle

Etymology

Borrowed from English label, itself from Old French label, lambel (“fringe, strip”), 1899.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /la.bɛl/

Noun

label m (plural labels)

1. quality label
2. (music) record label

Further reading

• “label” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• balle

Alternative forms

• lambeau
• lambel

Noun

label m (oblique plural labeaus or labeax or labiaus or labiax or labels, nominative singular labeaus or labeax or labiaus or labiax or labels, nominative plural label)

1. strip of fabric
2. badge; insignia
   • Les armes son pere a label portoit

     His weapons bore the insignia of his father

Etymology

Borrowed from English label.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlɛjbɛl/

Noun

label m inan

1. music label