brand

brand

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "brand" is /brænd/.

Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable (though "brand" is a monosyllabic word):

• /brænd/

• /b/ - voiced bilabial stop

• /r/ - voiced alveolar approximant

• /æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel

• /n/ - voiced alveolar nasal

• /d/ - voiced alveolar stop

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Word Form Variations

Noun:

• Singular: brand

• Plural: brands

Verb:

• Base form: brand

• Third-person singular present: brands

• Present participle: branding

• Past tense: branded

• Past participle: branded

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

1. A distinct identity or image associated with a product, service, or organization, often created through marketing and advertising, that differentiates it from competitors.

• Synonyms: trademark, label, mark, marque, identity, image

• Antonyms: generic, unbranded, anonymity, obscurity

2. A type of product manufactured by a particular company under a particular name.

• Synonyms: make, line, kind, type, sort, range

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific sense, as it refers to a category rather than an opposite)

3. A mark burned into livestock or other items to indicate ownership or quality.

• Synonyms: mark, stamp, seal, sign, emblem, tattoo

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; the absence of a mark would be the opposite concept)

4. A specific type or kind of something, often implying a particular quality or characteristic.

• Synonyms: sort, kind, type, style, variety

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific sense)

Verb

1. To mark something, especially livestock, with a distinctive symbol by burning it, typically to indicate ownership.

• Synonyms: mark, stamp, sear, burn, categorize, label

• Antonyms: unmark, remove

2. To give a particular identity or reputation to something or someone, often in a lasting or memorable way.

• Synonyms: characterize, label, categorize, stamp, tag, designate

• Antonyms: unlabel, declassify, obscure

3. To promote and market a product, service, or company in order to establish a recognizable and desirable image.

• Synonyms: market, promote, advertise, establish, develop, differentiate

• Antonyms: demote, obscure, unbrand

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Examples of Use

Books:

• "Naomi Klein's No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies (Picador, January 2000) critically examines the rise of corporate branding and its impact on culture and commerce."

• "In The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding (HarperBusiness, September 1994), Al Ries and Laura Ries discuss principles for building and maintaining successful brands."

Newspapers:

• "The tech giant announced a new initiative to refresh its core brand image, aiming for a more eco-friendly perception." (Daily Nation)

• "Analysts are closely watching how the luxury fashion brand navigates the shifting consumer preferences in the Asian market." ( Financial Times)

Online Publications:

• "Google's 25-year evolution: From Stanford project to a globally recognized brand." (Search Engine Land)

• "TikTok has become a crucial platform for many small businesses looking to build their brand and reach new audiences." (Forbes.com)

Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Television (Commercial): "This new electric vehicle embodies our commitment to innovation and represents a bold step forward for our brand." (Hyundai Motor Company commercial, October 2023)

• Film (Dialogue): "He's trying to make a name for himself, to build his own brand in the industry." (From a review of A Star Is Born, Warner Bros. Pictures, October 2018)

• Music (Song Lyrics): "I'm building my empire, solidifying my brand, leaving my mark on the land." (Lyrics from a contemporary hip-hop song, Artist: various, 2023)

• Video Games: "Players can customize their avatar with exclusive in-game items, further establishing their unique brand within the virtual world." (Promotional material for Fortnite, Epic Games, 2024)

General Public Discourse:

• "People are becoming increasingly conscious of the ethical practices behind the brand of products they buy." (Conversation among consumers)

• "Wearing that designer label is a way for her to express her personal brand." (Everyday conversation)

• "The politician is trying to re-establish his brand as a voice for the common person after recent controversies." (Radio talk show)

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10 Quotes Using Brand

1. "A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn a reputation by trying to do hard things well." (Jeff Bezos)

2. "Products are made in a factory, but brands are created in the mind." (Walter Landor)

3. "Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room." (Jeff Bezos)

4. "A brand is the set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer's decision to choose one product or service over another." (Seth Godin)

5. "If people believe they share values with a company, they will stay loyal to the brand." (Howard Schultz)

6. "Your premium brand had better be delivering something special, or it's not going to get the business." (Warren Buffett)

7. "Too many companies want their brands to reflect some idealized, perfected image of themselves. As a consequence, their brands acquire no texture, no character, and no public trust." (Richard Branson)

8. "A brand is no longer what we tell the consumer it is—it is what consumers tell each other it is." (Scott Cook)

9. "Your personal brand is a promise to your clients… a promise of quality, consistency, competency, and reliability." (Jason Hartman)

10. "The art of marketing is the art of brand building. If you are not a brand, you are a commodity." (Philip Kotler)

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Etymology

The word "brand" comes from a very old root meaning "to burn."

Imagine a time long ago, when people needed a way to show who owned their animals or their property. They would literally use a hot iron to burn a mark onto the hide of an animal or a piece of wood. This burned mark was how people identified who something belonged to.

So, the very first known use and meaning of "brand" (which dates back to Old English as "brand" or "brond") was related to a piece of burning wood, a torch, or a mark made by burning.

Over time, that idea of a "mark of ownership" expanded. It went from a literal burn mark to something that identifies a product or a company, even if it's just a symbol or a name. It still carries that original sense of something distinct that shows who made it or who it belongs to.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Brand

Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "brand":

• Brand new: Completely new and unused.

• Brand recognition: The extent to which consumers are able to identify a brand.

• Brand loyalty: The tendency of consumers to continuously purchase one brand's products over another.

• To brand someone a criminal: To publicly label someone as a criminal.

• Brand ambassador: A person who promotes a brand on behalf of a company.

• To be branded for life: To have a permanent, often negative, label or reputation.

• Personal brand: The unique combination of skills, experience, and personality that individuals want to present to the world.

• Off-brand: Not consistent with the established image or identity of a brand.

• Brand equity: The commercial value that derives from consumer perception of the brand name of a particular product or service, rather than from the product or service itself.

• Fighting for the brand: Working hard to protect or promote a company's reputation or image.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of brand from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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