n. & v.
n. 1 a a particular make of goods. b an identifying trade mark, label, etc. 2 (usu. foll. by of) a special or characteristic kind (brand of humour). 3 an identifying mark burned on livestock or (formerly) prisoners etc. with a hot iron. 4 an iron used for this. 5 a piece of burning, smouldering, or charred wood. 6 a stigma; a mark of disgrace. 7 poet. a a torch. b a sword. 8 a kind of blight, leaving leaves with a burnt appearance.
v.tr. 1 mark with a hot iron. 2 stigmatize; mark with disgrace (they branded him a liar; was branded for life). 3 impress unforgettably on one's mind. 4 assign a trademark or label to. brand-new completely or obviously new. brander n.
[ OE f. Gmc ]