christen

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To perform the religious rite of baptism upon

   To perform the religious rite of baptism upon; to baptize.

   • The new baby was christened at the village church.
2. 2

   To name.

   • I christen this ship the Bonny Barnacle.
   • 1684-1690, Thomas Burnet, Sacred Theory of the Earth Christen the thing what you will.
   • The order to rename the oiler ship USNS Harvey Milk – christened four years ago – is unusual but is in line with the White House mandate to reverse a number of military initiatives by Democratic presidents.
3. 3

   To Christianize.

   • I must tell you that christianity hath new christened it
4. ›+ 3 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To use for the first time.

      • I christened my new boots today with a walk in the snow.
      • Foo Fighters, the Pretenders, and Alex G christened Portland’s newest music venue Friday night, and it was a show for the ages.
   2. 5

      To douse or wet with blood, urine, tears, or other liquid.

      • Thus was De Witt's colony, like Austin's, at the mouth of the Colorado, christened in blood, and thus for the moment ended the first effort to found a settlement within its limits.
      • I christened the facilities, shrugged into my windbreaker, and met Dolan at his door.
      • Being christened by a urinating bare-bottomed newborn is almost a rite of passage of parenthood.
   3. 6

      Obsolete form of Christian.

The neighborhood