a brief description given for purposes of identification
"the label modern is applied to many different kinds of architecture"
trade name of a company that produces musical recordings
"the artists and repertoire department of a recording label is responsible for finding new talent"
a radioactive isotope that is used in a compound in order to trace the mechanism of a chemical reaction
"The chemist added a tiny amount of carbon-14 label to the reactant mixture so they could track exactly where each atom ended up after the synthesis."
an identifying or descriptive marker that is attached to an object
"She peeled off the nutritional label from the back of the soup can before recycling it."
A small ticket or sign giving information about something to which it is attached or intended to be attached.
"She tore off the price label from the shirt before putting it in her bag."
In plain English: A label is a small piece of paper or plastic attached to something that tells you what it is or gives it information.
"The food label says that the product contains gluten."
Usage: Use "label" as a noun to describe a small piece of paper, fabric, or plastic attached to an item that identifies its contents, origin, or care instructions. For example, you might read the warning label on a bottle or check the size label on a shirt.
distinguish (as a compound or molecule) by introducing a labeled atom
"The chemists used carbon-14 to label the glucose molecule so they could track its path through the plant's metabolic processes."
distinguish (an element or atom) by using a radioactive isotope or an isotope of unusual mass for tracing through chemical reactions
"The chemist added a carbon-14 label to the molecule to track its path through the metabolic pathway."
To put a label (a ticket or sign) on (something).
"She carefully labeled each jar of pickles before storing them in the pantry."
In plain English: To label something means to give it a name or category so you can identify what it is.
"Please label each jar with its contents before storing them in the pantry."
Usage: Use "label" to mean attaching a physical tag or sticker to an item, such as marking a jar with its contents. Do not use this verb for describing the act of categorizing someone's personality or behavior; instead, use words like "describe," "characterize," or "define."
The word "label" comes from the Middle English term for a narrow strip of cloth, which traveled through Old French and Frankish languages before entering English. Its original meaning was simply a piece or scrap of fabric, reflecting its early use as an actual tag made from such material.