la•belˈleɪ bəl(n.; v.)-beled, -bel•ing; -belled, -bel•ling.

1. (n.)an inscribed slip of paper, cloth, or other material, for attachment to something to indicate its manufacturer, nature, ownership, destination, etc.

2. a short word or phrase descriptive of a person, group, intellectual movement, etc.

3. a word or phrase indicating that what follows belongs in a particular category or classification, as the word Physics before a dictionary definition.

   Category: Common Vocabulary

4. a brand or trademark, esp. of a manufacturer.

5. the manufacturer using such a label.

   Category: Common Vocabulary

6. Ref: wall label .

7. a molding or dripstone over a door or window.

   Category: Architecture

8. a radioactive or heavy isotope incorporated into a molecule for use as a tracer.

   Category: Medicine, Chemistry

9. a narrow horizontal heraldic band with downward extensions.

   Category: Heraldry

10. Obs. a strip or narrow piece of anything.

11. (v.t.)to affix a label to; mark with a label.

12. to designate or describe by or on a label.

13. to put in a certain class; classify.

14. to incorporate a radioactive or heavy isotope into (a molecule) in order to make traceable.

    Category: Chemistry

Origin of label:

1275–1325; ME < MF: ribbon, prob. < Gmc

la′bel•er(n.)