[tag] n [ME tagge, prob. of Scand origin; akin to Sw tagg barb] (15c) 1: a loose hanging piece of cloth: tatter
2: a metal or plastic binding on an end of a shoelace
3: a piece of hanging or attached material; specif: a loop, knot, or tassel on a garment
4. a: a brief quotation used for rhetorical emphasis or sententious effect b: a recurrent or characteristic verbal expression c: tag line 1
5. a: a cardboard, plastic, or metal marker used for identification or classification "license ~s" b: a descriptive or identifying epithet c: something used for identification or location: flag d: label 3d e: price tag
6: a detached fragmentary piece: bit
[2]tag vb tagged ; tag.ging vt (15c) 1: to provide or mark with or as if with a tag: as a: to supply with an identifying marker or price "tagged every item in the store" "was tagged at $4.95" b: to provide with a name or epithet: label, brand "tagged him a has-been" c: to put a ticket on (a motor vehicle) for a traffic violation
2: to attach as an addition: append
3: to follow closely and persistently
4: to hold to account; esp: to charge with violating the law "was tagged for ... assault --Burt Woolis"
5: label
2. ~ vi: to keep close "tagging at their heels --Corey Ford" [3]tag n [origin unknown] (1738) 1: a game in which the player who is it chases others and tries to touch one of them who then becomes it
2: an act or instance of tagging a runner in baseball [4]tag vt tagged ; tag.ging (1878) 1 a: to touch in or as if in a game of tag b: to put out (a runner) in baseball by a touch with the ball or the gloved hand containing the ball
2: to hit solidly
3: to choose usu. for a special purpose: select
4: to make a hit or run off (a pitcher) in baseball