label

Everyday

1. A label is a small piece of paper, cloth or plastic on something that gives information about it. tree →
2. To label something is to put a label on it or write names on its parts. tree →
3. To label a diagram is to write the names of its parts with lines pointing to them. tree →
4. To label someone is to describe them with a word, often unfairly. tree →

In the lessons

In science and maths, you label diagrams, axes on graphs and parts of a plant. In everyday safety, read labels on food (allergies, sell-by dates), medicine (how much to take) and cleaning products (warning signs). Clothes labels tell you size and how to wash them. Phrases: label the diagram, price label, warning label, name label, label the axes.

Examples

• Label the parts of the flower. tree →
• Read the label before you take any medicine. tree →
• Put a name label on your lunch box. tree →
• The label says the jumper must be washed cold. tree →
• Label both axes on your bar chart. tree →
• This label warns that the product is poisonous. tree →
• It's unkind to label someone as lazy. tree →
• Its china label was quite coated over with dirt and cobwebs. tree →

Note

British spelling: labelled, labelling; American spelling: labeled, labeling. On a graph, labels must include units, like "time (seconds)". Food labels list allergens, often in bold.