— brander , n. — brandless , adj.
/brand/ , n.
1. kind, grade, or make, as indicated by a stamp, trademark, or the like: the best brand of coffee.
2. a mark made by burning or otherwise, to indicate kind, grade, make, ownership, etc.
3. a mark formerly put upon criminals with a hot iron.
4. any mark of disgrace; stigma.
5. See BRANDING IRON.
6. a kind or variety of something distinguished by some distinctive characteristic: The movie was filled with slapstick - a brand of humor he did not find funny.
7. a burning or partly burned piece of wood.
8. Archaic. a sword.
v.t.
9. to label or mark with or as if with a brand.
10. to mark with disgrace or infamy; stigmatize.
11. to impress indelibly: The plane crash was branded on her mind.
12. to give a brand name to: branded merchandise.
13. to promote as a brand name.
[ bef. 950; ME, OE: burning, a burning piece of wood, torch, sword; c. D brand, G Brand, ON brandr; akin to BURN 1 ]
Syn. 4. stain, spot, blot, taint.