# labeled

/ˈɫeɪbəɫd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/labeled
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. described as

verb · CEFR B2 · American English

to have described someone or something using a specific word, often unfairly.

For teachers: to have assigned a person or thing to a category, often in a restrictive or oversimplified manner.

- The media labeled him a hero after he helped the family escape the fire.
- Critics labeled the new policy a failure before the government even had a chance to implement the first phase of the rollout.

### 3. having a tag

adjective · CEFR B1 · American English

describes something that already has a tag or information on it.

For teachers: bearing a label or identifying mark; used as a participial adjective.

- Please put the labeled bottles on the top shelf and the empty ones in the bin.
- The laboratory technician insisted that only clearly labeled samples be admitted for testing to avoid any risk of cross-contamination.

### 4. radioactive tracing

adjective · CEFR C1 · American English · Technical

in science, describes a molecule where one part is replaced by a special atom so it can be tracked.

For teachers: referring to a compound in which one or more atoms have been replaced by a radioactive or stable isotope to track its path through a system.

- The scientists used a labeled glucose molecule to see how the body uses sugar.
- By introducing a labeled isotope into the reaction, the researchers were able to map the metabolic pathway with unprecedented precision.

Usage: Usually appears before the noun it modifies in scientific reports.

## Examples

- She labeled each box with a black marker.
- The technician labeled the chemical samples clearly to ensure no mix-ups occurred during the experiment.
- Critics labeled the new policy a failure before it even had a chance to be implemented, effectively poisoning public perception through early negative framing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.