christen
/ˈkrɪs(ə)n
/verb [with object]
1Give (a baby) a Christian name at baptism as a sign of admission to a Christian Church: [with object and complement]: their second daughter was christened Jeanette...
- The baby was christened in the Holy Family Church and will be called Niamh Mary.
- She had twice asked a vicar to christen the baby.
- She was born on June 16, 1886, and christened Helen Nora Wilson Low.
Synonyms
baptize;
name, give a name to, give the name of, call
rare lustrate
1.1Give a name to (someone or something) which reflects a notable characteristic: [with object and complement]: we have christened our regular train home the ghost train...
- Since I have not been able to find a definite name for the gambit, I will temporarily christen it the ‘Kevitz Gambit,’ secure in the knowledge that if this is a blunder my readers will quickly set me straight.
- He mocked his colleagues in Congress by christening Washington the ‘city of Satan.’
- They were unofficially christened the Brown Water Navy.
Synonyms
call, name, dub, style, term, designate, label, nickname, refer to as, give the name of
rare denominate
2 informal Use for the first time: he bought a new pair of boots and christened them with his first goal at the McAlpine Stadium...
- Brown made his Yorkshire debut in the first friendly of the season against Derbyshire at Scarborough's South Cliff Golf Club, where several new holes were christened in the inter-county exchange.
- I'm so glad I brought my walking pole, it's great for measuring bog depth before you leap in, my new boots have been well and truly christened now.
- Several drinks later, comes the worst part of the day - what seems like a half-day trek through the mud, in the dark, uphill, to our tent in the newly christened Strummer field.
Synonyms
begin using, use for the first time, break in
Derivatives
christener
- Visitors are guided through the Paris of yesterday and today on board one of three superb glassed-over trimarans bearing the names of their famous christeners; Jeanne Moreau, Catherine Deneuve and Isabelle Adjani.
- Launching ceremonies, including celebrity christeners, remained of personal interest to the public throughout the war.
- It was impossible that Mme Lebrun should fail - as some eminent christeners have failed - to throw the champagne bottle soon enough.
Origin
Old English crīstnian 'make Christian', from crīsten 'Christian', from Latin Christianus, from Christus 'Christ'.