christen

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to baptize someone in a Christian ceremony and formally give them a name

   The family will christen the baby at the village church next Sunday.

2. 2
   verb

   to give a person or thing a name, title, or nickname

   The crew christened the new research vessel Aurora.

3. 3
   verb

   informal: to use something for the first time

   She decided to christen her new boots on a long coastal walk.

From Middle English cristenen and Old English cristnian 'to make Christian or baptize', based on cristen 'Christian'. The later senses of giving a name or inaugurating something developed from the naming associated with baptism.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images