christened

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

chris•ten /ˈkrɪsən/   v. [~ + object] ,

1. Religion to receive into the Christian church by baptism;
   baptize:
   The minister christened our daughter.
2. Religion to give a name to at baptism:
   [~ + object + proper noun] She was christened Anne.
3. to name and dedicate:
   christened the ship by breaking a bottle of champagne against it.
4. to make use of for the first time:
   Let's christen the new silverware.

chris•ten•er, n. [countable]
chris•ten•ing, n. 

[countable] attended a christening.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

chris•ten  (kris′ən), v.t. 

1. Religion to receive into the Christian church by baptism;
   baptize.
2. Religion to give a name to at baptism:
   They christened her Mary.
3. to name and dedicate:
   to christen a ship.
4. to make use of for the first time.

• Middle English cristenen, Old English cristnian, derivative of cristen Christian bef. 900

chris′ten•er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

christen / ˈkrɪs^ən/ verb (transitive)

1. to give a Christian name to in baptism as a sign of incorporation into a Christian Church
2. another word for baptize
3. to give a name to (anything), esp with some ceremony
4. to use for the first time

Etymology: Old English cristnian, from Crīst Christ

ˈchristener noun