The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Brand \Brand\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Branded; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Branding.].
   1. To burn a distinctive mark into or upon with a hot iron,
      to indicate quality, ownership, etc., or to mark as
      infamous (as a convict).
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To put an actual distinctive mark upon in any other way,
      as with a stencil, to show quality of contents, name of
      manufacture, etc.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Fig.: To fix a mark of infamy, or a stigma, upon.
      [1913 Webster]

            The Inquisition branded its victims with infamy.
                                                  --Prescott.
      [1913 Webster]

            There were the enormities, branded and condemned by
            the first and most natural verdict of common
            humanity.                             --South.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. To mark or impress indelibly, as with a hot iron.
      [1913 Webster]

            As if it were branded on my mind.     --Geo. Eliot.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

branding
    n 1: the act of stigmatizing [syn: stigmatization,
         stigmatisation, branding]