christen

[ kris-uhn ]
See synonyms for: christenchristenedchristening on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to receive into the Christian church by baptism; baptize.

  2. to give a name to at baptism: They christened her Mary.

  1. to name and dedicate: to christen a ship.

  2. to make use of for the first time.

Origin of christen

1
before 900; Middle English cristenen,Old English cristnian, derivative of cristenChristian

Other words from christen

  • chris·ten·er, noun
  • re·chris·ten, verb (used with object)
  • un·chris·tened, adjective

Words Nearby christen

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use christen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for christen

christen

/ (ˈkrɪsən) /


verb(tr)
  1. to give a Christian name to in baptism as a sign of incorporation into a Christian Church

  2. another word for baptize

  1. to give a name to (anything), esp with some ceremony

  2. informal to use for the first time

Origin of christen

1
Old English cristnian, from Crīst Christ

Derived forms of christen

  • christener, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012