— 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 1 ]