christen

6 definitions • 7 examples

to give a baby a name at a Christian ceremony and make him or her a member of the Christian Church:

She's being christened in June.

[ + noun ] She was christened Maria.

to give a person a name based on a characteristic that they have:

We christened him "Slowcoach" because he took so long to do anything.

to use something for the first time:

I'm going to christen my new walking boots on Saturday.

to call a person, esp. a baby, a Christian through the ceremony of baptism and by naming the person:

The parents christened their second child Maria.

If a ship is christened, it is officially given its name:

The First Lady christened the ship, “USS Arizona.”

If you christen something new, you use it for the first time:

I’m going to christen my new golf clubs this week.