Word: brand Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English brand, from Old English brand (“fire; flame; burning; torch; sword”), from Proto-West Germanic *brand, from Proto-Germanic *brandaz (“flame; flaming; fire-brand; torch; sword”), derived from Proto-Germanic *brinnaną (“to burn”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrewh₁- (“to boil; brew”). Cognate with Scots brand, West Frisian brân (“fire”), Dutch brand, German Brand, Danish brand, Swedish brand (“blaze, fire”), Icelandic brandur, French brand (< Germanic). More distantly cognate with Proto-Slavic *gorěti (“to burn”). Pronunciation: /ˈbɹænd/, [ˈbɹʷænd] ~ [bɹʷand], /ˈbɹand/, [bɹʷand], [bɹʷand] ~ [bɹʷänd] 1. A mark or scar made by burning with a hot iron, especially to mark cattle or to classify the contents of a cask. Example: “Well, in the first place, every cattleman has to have a brand to identify his stock. Without it no cattleman, nor half a hundred cowboys, if he had so many, could ever recognize all the cattle in a big herd. […]” Example: The indelible word "homosexual," like a brand that grew deeper and redder every day, became increasingly hard to conceal and to ignore. 2. A branding iron. 3. The symbolic identity, represented by a name and/or a logo, which indicates a certain product or service to the public. Example: The Amtrak brand revitalization approach represents one of the most ambitious, comprehensive, and systematic experiential marketing approaches I have ever seen. Example: In this way, every Citibanker becomes a brand manager and an ambassador of the Citibank brand. ... Indeed, the Citibank brand will "never sleep" 4. A specific product, service, or provider so distinguished. Example: Some brands of breakfast cereal contain a lot of sugar. 5. Any specific type or variety of something; a distinct style or manner. Labels: broadly Example: I didn’t appreciate his particular brand of flattery. Example: New Orleans brand sausage; Danish brand ham 6. The public image or reputation and recognized, typical style of an individual or group. Example: The Obama brand had taken a hit two months earlier, when he campaigned for Creigh Deeds in Virginia and Jon Corzine in New Jersey, only to see them both lose. Example: Her brand is edgy, cosmopolitan, and out-of-the-box, so blogging is the perfect, ever-changing match for her. 7. A mark of infamy; stigma. 8. Any minute fungus producing a burnt appearance in plants. 9. A torch used for signaling. Labels: Northern-England, Scotland 10. A flame. Labels: obsolete, rare Example: Goe to prepare the maryages what neede the torchis light? be holde the towres of troy do shyne with brandes that blase full bright. Example: Is yet againe thy brest enflamde, / with brande of venus might 11. A conflagration. Labels: obsolete, rare 12. A piece of burning wood or peat, or a glowing cinder. Labels: archaic, poetic Example: to burn something to brands and ashes Example: The fearful brands and bleezes of het fire. 13. A sword. Labels: archaic Example: Paradise, so late their happy seat, / Waved over by that flaming brand. Example: The shattering trumpet shrilleth high, / The hard brands shiver on the steel, / The splintered spear-shafts crack and fly, / The horse and rider reel: […]