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title

n. · v.
US //ˈtaɪtəɫ// UK //tˈaɪtəl// ti·tle
  1. 1 name of a work (n.)
    A1 Beginner

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The author struggled to find a title that captured the dark irony of the novel without alienating potential readers.
  2. 2 social or professional rank (n.)
    A2 Elementary

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

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

    Example

    Please include your professional title on the application form.

    Example

    Despite his significant contributions to the field, he rarely used his academic title in casual social settings.
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  1. 3 sports championship (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Sport

    the position of being the winner in a sports competition.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    After a grueling season, the underdog team finally secured the league title in a dramatic final match.
  2. 4 legal ownership (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Law

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The lawyer spent weeks investigating the property's history to ensure the title was clear of any previous claims.
  3. 5 on-screen text (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The documentary used descriptive titles to introduce each expert witness as they appeared on screen.
  4. 6 to give a name (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

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

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.

Word family

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