ENGLISH
REFERENCE

label

n. countable
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɫeɪbəɫ// UK //lˈeɪbəl// la·bel Academic Archaic General-service

n. a small piece of paper, plastic, or cloth attached to something to give information about it. You use it to see the price, the brand, or what is inside a box.

n. a small slip of paper, fabric, or plastic attached to an object to identify its contents, ownership, or characteristics. Often used metaphorically to categorise people or concepts into specific groups.


SIMPLE

Check the label on the shirt for washing instructions.

CONTEXTUAL

The shipping company requires a clear address label on every package to prevent delivery delays.

COMPLEX

While the record label provided the necessary funding for the studio sessions, the artist felt that their marketing strategy relied too heavily on outdated genre labels.

Synonyms
Origin

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.

Usage

Commonly used with the preposition 'on' to indicate placement.

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