label
labels; labeled; labelled; labeling; labelling
The saying “labels are for jars not people” means it’s OK to put a description on a jar so you know what’s inside (a label), but it’s not okay to judge people by attaching a label, or description to them, such as "nerd," "jock," or "burnout."
Label is a busy word. It refers to the paper or identifying marks on a jar that tells you something about what’s inside the jar. Put such an identifier on the jar, and you label it. Related to that is a judgment about someone or something, a label. When you call yourself a superstar, you label yourself. Finally, you can use label as a short form of recording label, a company that produces musical recordings.
Definitions of label
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a brief description given for purposes of identification“the label Modern is applied to many different kinds of architecture”
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type of:
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description
the act of describing something
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description
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an identifying or descriptive marker that is attached to an object
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types:
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gummed label, paster, sticker
an adhesive label
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tag, ticket
a label written or printed on paper, cardboard, or plastic that is attached to something to indicate its owner, nature, price, etc.
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tag
a label associated with something for the purpose of identification
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title bar
(computer science) a horizontal label at the top of a window, bearing the name of the currently active document
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bookplate, ex libris
a label identifying the owner of a book in which it is pasted
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dog tag
metal plate on a dog collar bearing its registration number
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dog tag
military identification tag worn on a chain around the neck
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name tag
a tag showing the name of the person who wears it
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price tag
a tag showing the price of the article it is attached to
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trade name of a company that produces musical recordings“the artists and repertoire department of a recording label is responsible for finding new talent”
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synonyms:
recording label
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type of:
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brand, brand name, marque, trade name
a name given to a product or service
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brand, brand name, marque, trade name
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assign a label to; designate with a label“These students were labelled `learning disabled'”
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types:
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call
ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that reflects a quality
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address, direct
put an address on (an envelope)
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call, name
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
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brand, denounce, mark, stigmatise, stigmatize
accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful
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miscall, misname
assign in incorrect name to
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misaddress, misdirect
put a wrong address on
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instrument
address a legal document to
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re-address
put a new address on (an envelope), as for forwarding
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baptise, baptize, christen
administer baptism to
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refer
use a name to designate
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style, title
designate by an identifying term
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dub, nickname
give a nickname to
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rename
assign a new name to
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entitle, title
give a title to
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term
name formally or designate with a term
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tag
provide with a name or nickname
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brand, post
mark or expose as infamous
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type of:
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denominate, designate
assign a name or title to
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attach a tag or label to“label these bottles”
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mark
make or leave a mark on
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types:
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brand, brandmark, trademark
mark with a brand or trademark
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point
mark (a psalm text) to indicate the points at which the music changes
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point
mark with diacritics
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point
mark (Hebrew words) with diacritics
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calibrate
mark (the scale of a measuring instrument) so that it can be read in the desired units
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code
attach a code to
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badge
put a badge on
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type of:
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attach
cause to be attached
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mark
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pronounce judgment on“They labeled him unfit to work here”
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types:
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acquit, assoil, clear, discharge, exculpate, exonerate
pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
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convict
find or declare guilty
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tout
advertise in strongly positive terms
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find, rule
decide on and make a declaration about
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qualify
pronounce fit or able
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disqualify
declare unfit
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intonate, intone
speak carefully, as with rising and falling pitch or in a particular tone
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vindicate
clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting proof
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whitewash
exonerate by means of a perfunctory investigation or through biased presentation of data
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purge
clear of a charge
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reconvict
convict anew
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capacitate
make legally capable or qualify in law
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recuse
disqualify oneself (as a judge) in a particular case
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disbar
remove from the bar; expel from the practice of law by official action
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a radioactive isotope that is used in a compound in order to trace the mechanism of a chemical reaction
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type of:
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radioisotope
a radioactive isotope of an element; produced either naturally or artificially
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radioisotope
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distinguish (as a compound or molecule) by introducing a labeled atom
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type of:
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differentiate, distinguish, secern, secernate, separate, severalise, severalize, tell, tell apart
mark as different
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differentiate, distinguish, secern, secernate, separate, severalise, severalize, tell, tell apart
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distinguish (an element or atom) by using a radioactive isotope or an isotope of unusual mass for tracing through chemical reactions
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type of:
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differentiate, distinguish, secern, secernate, separate, severalise, severalize, tell, tell apart
mark as different
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differentiate, distinguish, secern, secernate, separate, severalise, severalize, tell, tell apart
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘label'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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