NOUN (2)

1. an emblem (a small piece of plastic or cloth or metal) that signifies your status (rank or membership or affiliation etc.);
- Example: "they checked everyone's badge before letting them in"

2. any feature that is regarded as a sign of status (a particular power or quality or rank);
- Example: "wearing a tie was regarded as a badge of respectability"


VERB (1)

1. put a badge on;
- Example: "The workers here must be badged"

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Badge \Badge\ (b[a^]j), n. [LL. bagea, bagia, sign, prob. of
   German origin; cf. AS. be['a]g, be['a]h, bracelet, collar,
   crown, OS. b[=o]g- in comp., AS. b[=u]gan to bow, bend, G.
   biegen. See Bow to bend.]
   1. A distinctive mark, token, sign, or cognizance, worn on
      the person; as, the badge of a society; the badge of a
      policeman. "Tax gatherers, recognized by their official
      badges." --Prescott.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Something characteristic; a mark; a token.
      [1913 Webster]

            Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Naut.) A carved ornament on the stern of a vessel,
      containing a window or the representation of one.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Badge \Badge\ (b[a^]j), v. t.
   To mark or distinguish with a badge.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

badge
    n 1: an emblem (a small piece of plastic or cloth or metal) that
         signifies your status (rank or membership or affiliation
         etc.); "they checked everyone's badge before letting them
         in"
    2: any feature that is regarded as a sign of status (a
       particular power or quality or rank); "wearing a tie was
       regarded as a badge of respectability"
    v 1: put a badge on; "The workers here must be badged"

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

163 Moby Thesaurus words for "badge":
   Hershey bar, ID card, accolade, armory, aroma, attribute,
   aviation badge, award, badge of office, badges, banner, bar, baton,
   bays, blazonry, brand, brassard, button, cachet, calligram,
   calling card, cap and gown, card, cast, chain, chain of office,
   character, characteristic, chevron, chicken, class ring, cockade,
   collar, configuration, countermark, countersign, credentials,
   cross, cut, decoration, device, differentia, differential,
   distinction, distinctive feature, dog tag, dress, eagle, earmark,
   emblem, emblems, ensigns, epaulet, fasces, feature, figure,
   figurehead, flavor, fleur-de-lis, gust, hallmark,
   hammer and sickle, hash mark, heraldry, identification,
   identification badge, identification tag, idiocrasy, idiosyncrasy,
   image, impress, impression, index, indicant, indicator,
   individualism, initials, insignia, insignia of branch, keynote,
   kudos, lapel pin, laurels, letter of introduction, lineaments,
   livery, mace, mannerism, mantle, mark, marking, markings, measure,
   medal, mold, monogram, mortarboard, nature, note, oak leaf, odor,
   old school tie, organization insignia, overseas bar,
   parachute badge, particularity, patch, peculiarity, picture, pin,
   pip, press card, property, quality, quirk, regalia, representation,
   representative, ring, rose, savor, school ring, seal,
   serial number, service stripe, shamrock, shape, shoulder patch,
   shoulder sleeve insignia, sigil, sigillography, sign, signal,
   signature, singularity, skull and crossbones, smack, specialty,
   sphragistics, spread eagle, staff, stamp, star, stripe,
   submarine badge, sure sign, swastika, symptom, taint, tang, tartan,
   taste, telltale sign, tessera, thistle, tie, token, trait, trick,
   uniform, verge, visiting card, wand



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

BADGE. A mark or sign worn by some persons, or placed upon certain things
for the purpose of designation. Some public officers, as watchmen,
policemen, and the like, are required to wear badges that they may be
readily known. It is used figuratively when we say, possession of personal
property by the seller, is. a badge of fraud.