English Reference
noun · verb

title

n. · v.
US /ˈtaɪtəɫ/ UK /tˈaɪtəl/ ti·tle UK spelling titles

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    n.the name of a book, movie, song, or painting.

    n.the identifying name given to a literary, musical, or artistic work.

    Simple

    I can never remember the title of that movie, but I know who stars in it.

    In context

    The author struggled to find a title that captured the dark irony of the novel without alienating potential readers.

  2. 02 A2 Elementary

    n.a word used before a person's name to show their job or social rank, like 'Dr.' or 'Captain'.

    n.an appellation attached to a person's name to signify official position, professional qualification, or social standing.

    Simple

    Please include your professional title on the application form.

    In context

    Despite his significant contributions to the field, he rarely used his academic title in casual social settings.

    honorificdesignationrank
  3. 03 B1 Intermediate Sport

    n.the position of being the winner in a sports competition.

    n.the status or recognition accorded to the winner of a championship or tournament.

    Simple

    The team won the world title for the third year in a row.

    In context

    After a grueling season, the underdog team finally secured the league title in a dramatic final match.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Law

    n.the legal right to own a piece of property, like a house or a car.

    n.the legal right to possession of property, or the document constituting evidence of such a right.

    Simple

    You will receive the title to the car once the final payment is made.

    In context

    The lawyer spent weeks investigating the property's history to ensure the title was clear of any previous claims.

  5. 05 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.words shown on a screen during a movie or TV show, such as the credits.

    n.textual matter appearing on screen in a film or television broadcast, typically used in the plural.

    Simple

    The opening titles were beautifully designed and set the mood for the film.

    In context

    The documentary used descriptive titles to introduce each expert witness as they appeared on screen.

  6. 06 B1 Intermediate

    v.to give a name to a book, song, or other work.

    v.to provide a work with a name or heading. Transitive — requires a direct object.

    Simple

    She decided to title her first book after the town where she grew up.

    In context

    The artist chose to title the sculpture 'Silence' to reflect the stillness of the gallery space.

Usage title defence · title since · title suggests


Etymology tree Etruscanbor. Latin titulusbor. Old English titul Middle English title English title From Middle English title, titel, from Old English titul (“title, heading, superscription”), from Latin titulus (“title, inscription”). Doublet of tilde, titer/titre, titlo, tittle, and titulus.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin titulus
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Very common
Updated