Definition

1. Noun:

   • A label or piece of material attached to something for identification or information: A small piece of paper, cloth, plastic, or metal that is attached to an object to show its owner, price, nature, or other details.
   • A children's chasing game: A game in which one player (who is "it") chases the others, and the act of touching ("tagging") another player makes that player become "it".
   • A small, loose, or hanging piece or part: A ragged or hanging end of something, such as a piece of cloth or a lock of hair.
   • A short, memorable phrase or quotation: A frequently repeated saying or quotation; a cliché or stock phrase.
   • A metadata label in computing: A keyword or term assigned to a piece of digital information (like a file, photo, or blog post) to describe it and enable keyword-based classification and search.

2. Verb:

   • To attach a label or tag to something: To fasten a tag onto an item.
   • To touch someone in the game of tag: To touch another player in the children's chasing game, thereby making them "it".
   • To follow closely behind someone: To follow someone closely, often persistently or without invitation.
   • To add something extra, often as an afterthought: To append or add something, especially a comment or remark, to the end of something else.
   • To label or identify with a name or description: To give a name, nickname, or descriptive label to someone or something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The price tag on the shirt was missing.
  • The children played a game of tag in the park.
  • There was a tag sticking out from the seam of his shirt.
  • He ended his speech with a familiar tag from a famous poem.
  • I added the tag "vacation" to all my photos from the trip.

• Verb:

  • Please tag all the new inventory before putting it on the shelves.
  • She managed to tag him just before he reached the safe base.
  • His little brother always tags along when he goes out with his friends.
  • He tagged a personal note onto the end of the official report.
  • Critics have tagged the new artist as the next big star.

Advanced Usage

• "to tag someone as something": To label or characterize someone in a specific, often negative, way.

  • He was unfairly tagged as a troublemaker after the incident.

• "to tag out" (in baseball): To touch a baserunner with the ball when they are not touching a base, resulting in them being out.

  • The catcher tagged the runner out at home plate.

• "to tag up" (in baseball): For a baserunner to touch their original base after a fly ball is caught before attempting to advance to the next base.

  • The runner on third tagged up and scored after the catch.

Variants and Related Words

• Tagging (n/gerund): The act of attaching tags or labels; also refers to the act of creating graffiti art with a stylized signature.
  • The tagging of the new library books took all day.
• Tagline (n): A memorable phrase associated with a product, person, or organization.
  • The company's tagline is known worldwide.
• Price tag (n): A label showing the price of an item for sale.
  • The price tag was higher than I expected.

Synonyms

• Label (n/v): A piece of paper or other material giving information; to assign a category to.
• Chase (v): To pursue in order to catch.
• Follow (v): To go or come after.
• Append (v): To add something as an attachment or supplement.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Tag along: To accompany someone, especially when not explicitly invited.
  • Do you mind if my sister tags along with us?
• Tag on: To add something, especially at the end.
  • A long disclaimer was tagged on to the email.

Related Idioms

• "Tag, you're it!": The phrase shouted in the children's game when one player touches another, declaring them to be the new chaser.
• "To be a tag-along": To be a person who habitually follows others without being a full participant.
  • He was always just a tag-along, never part of the core group.

Noun

1. (sports) the act of touching a player in a game (which changes their status in the game)
2. a game in which one child chases the others; the one who is caught becomes the next chaser
3. a small piece of cloth or paper
4. a label associated with something for the purpose of identification
   • semantic tags were attached in order to identify different meanings of the word
5. a label written or printed on paper, cardboard, or plastic that is attached to something to indicate its owner, nature, price, etc.

Verb

1. supply (blank verse or prose) with rhymes
2. go after with the intent to catch
   • The policeman chased the mugger down the alley
   • the dog chased the rabbit
3. provide with a name or nickname
4. touch a player while he is holding the ball
5. attach a tag or label to
   • label these bottles