title

UK: /ˈtaɪt^əl/ US: /ˈtaɪtəl/ ,(tīt′l)

Inflections of 'title' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

titles

v 3rd person singular

titling

v pres p

titled

v past

titled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ti•tle /ˈtaɪtəl/   n., adj., v., -tled, -tling. 
n. 

1. [countable] the name of an artistic work, as a book, painting, etc.
2. a heading, as of a chapter of a book, that describes what is contained:
   [countable] The title was: "Chapter 4: Issues and Implications.''
3. a book, magazine, or other publication:
   [countable] We published 25 titles last year.
4. a descriptive name, esp. by right of rank or office:
   [countable] He was given the title of "Lord Mayor.''
5. Sport a championship:
   [countable] to win a tennis title.
6. an established right to something, as to (possessing) land or property:
   [uncountable] has title to the farm his parents owned.
7. Law the document that is the legal evidence of such right:
   [countable] Sign the back of your title when transferring ownership of your car.
8. Show Business Usually, titles. [plural] any written matter inserted into a motion-picture or television program, as credits or subtitles.

adj. [before a noun]

9. of or relating to a title:
   The title story (= the story whose title is the same as the title of the collection) in her collection of pieces was the most famous.
10. that decides a championship:
    a title bout.

v. [~ + object + object]

11. to furnish with a title;
    entitle:
    What will you title your book?

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ti•tle  (tīt′l), n., adj., v., -tled, -tling. 
n. 

1. the distinguishing name of a book, poem, picture, piece of music, or the like.
2. a descriptive heading or caption, as of a chapter, section, or other part of a book.
3. Printing See title page. 
4. a descriptive or distinctive appellation, esp. one belonging to a person by right of rank, office, attainment, etc.:
   the title of Lord Mayor.
5. Sport the championship:
   He won the title three years in a row.
6. an established or recognized right to something.
7. a ground or basis for a claim.
8. anything that provides a ground or basis for a claim.
9. Law
   • legal right to the possession of property, esp. real property.
   • the ground or evidence of such right.
   • the instrument constituting evidence of such right.
   • a unity combining all of the requisites to complete legal ownership.
   • a division of a statute, lawbook, etc., esp. one larger than an article or section.
   • (in pleading) the designation of one's basis for judicial relief;
     the cause of action sued upon, as a contract or tort.
10. Religion [Eccles.]
    • a fixed sphere of work and source of income, required as a condition of ordination.
    • any of certain Roman Catholic churches in Rome, the nominal incumbents of which are cardinals.
11. Show Business Usually, titles. [Motion Pictures, Television.]
    • Show Business a subtitle in the viewer's own language:
      an Italian movie with English titles.
    • Show Business any written matter inserted into the film or program, esp. the list of actors, technicians, writers, etc., contributing to it;
      credits.

adj. 

12. of or pertaining to a title:
    the title story in a collection.
13. that decides a title:
    a title bout.

v.t. 

14. to furnish with a title;
    designate by an appellation;
    entitle.

• Latin titulus superscription, title
• Middle English, variant of titel, Old English titul bef. 950

Synonyms

• 4. designation, denomination. See name. 
• 14. denominate, term, call, style.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

title / ˈtaɪt^əl/ noun

1. the distinctive name of a work of art, musical, or literary composition, etc
2. a descriptive name, caption, or heading of a section of a book, speech, etc
3. See title page
4. a name or epithet signifying rank, office, or function
5. a formal designation, such as Mr, Mrs, or Miss
6. an appellation designating nobility
7. short for subtitle2
8. written material giving credits in a film or television programme
9. a championship
10. the legal right to possession of property, esp real property
11. the basis of such right
12. the documentary evidence of such right: title deeds
13. any customary or established right
14. a claim based on such a right
15. a definite spiritual charge or office in the church, without appointment to which a candidate for holy orders cannot lawfully be ordained
16. a titular church

verb

1. (transitive) to give a title to

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French, from Latin titulus