label

B1 Topic:Materials & Substances

US [ˈleː.b(ə)ɫ] UK /ˈleɪ.bəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #5503

Meanings

1

noun
A small piece of paper or other material attached to something to give information about it.

We laughed at her because the label was still on her new sweater.
2

verb
To attach a label to something, or to write information on it.

Remember to label these bottles before you store them.
3

noun
A word or name used to describe and categorize a person or group, often unfairly.

Ever since he started going to the rock club, he's been given the label "waster."
4

noun
A company that produces and sells music recordings.

The label signed the band after hearing a demo tape.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a small piece of paper or... tag ticket

2 verb · to attach a label to... mark

3 noun · a word or name used to... category

4 noun · a company that produces and... record label

More categoriseclassifycompartmentalisepeg pigeonhole

Word family

Forms labeledlabelinglabelledlabellinglabels

Derived forms biolabelclean-labelcolabeldisklabelecolabelextra-labelimmunolabelinterlabellabelablelabelerlabeleselabeller

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

recording label
the name or brand under which a company produces musical recordings

Noun + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

Labels are for cans

Etymology

From Middle English label (“narrow band, strip of cloth”), from Old French label, lambel (Modern French lambeau), from Frankish *lappā (“torn piece of cloth”), from Proto-Germanic *lappǭ, *lappô (“cloth stuff, rag, scraps, flap, dewlap, lobe, rabbit ear”), from Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“blade”). Cognate with Old High German lappa (“rag, piece of cloth”), Old English læppa (“skirt, flap of a garment”). More at lap.

label Middle English *lappā frk *lappǭ Proto-Germanic *leb- afa-pro

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Materials & Substances

External links

# label

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** [ˈleː.b(ə)ɫ]
**IPA (UK):** /ˈleɪ.bəl/
**Frequency rank:** 5503

## Meanings
1. A small piece of paper or other material attached to something to give information about it.
2. To attach a label to something, or to write information on it.
3. A word or name used to describe and categorize a person or group, often unfairly.
4. A company that produces and sells music recordings.

## Examples
- We laughed at her because the label was still on her new sweater.
- Remember to label these bottles before you store them.
- Ever since he started going to the rock club, he's been given the label "waster."
- The label signed the band after hearing a demo tape.

## Synonyms
- categorise
- classify
- compartmentalise
- peg
- pigeonhole

## Derived Forms
- biolabel
- clean-label
- colabel
- disklabel
- ecolabel
- extra-label
- immunolabel
- interlabel
- labelable
- labeler
- labelese
- labeller

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: label
- Root: *lappā
- Root: *lappǭ
- Root: *leb-

## Etymology
From Middle English label (“narrow band, strip of cloth”), from Old French label, lambel (Modern French lambeau), from Frankish *lappā (“torn piece of cloth”), from Proto-Germanic *lappǭ, *lappô (“cloth stuff, rag, scraps, flap, dewlap, lobe, rabbit ear”), from Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“blade”). Cognate with Old High German lappa (“rag, piece of cloth”), Old English læppa (“skirt, flap of a garment”). More at lap.

## AI Etymology
Label comes from Middle English label (“narrow band, strip of cloth”), from Old French label, lambel (Modern French lambeau), from Frankish *lappā (“torn piece of cloth”), from Proto-Germanic *lappǭ, *lappô (“cloth stuff, rag, scraps, flap, dewlap, lobe, rabbit ear”), from Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“blade”). Cognate with Old High German lappa (“rag, piece of cloth”), Old English læppa (“skirt, flap of a garment”). More at lap.

## Topics
- Materials & Substances

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