christen

Universal Words verb (informal) 1 to give a name to a baby at his or her baptism to welcome him or her into the Christian Church: [VN-N] The child was christened Mary. * [VN] Did you have your children christened? 2 to give a name to sb/sth: [VN-N] This area has been christened 'Britain's last wilderness'. * They christened the boat 'Oceania'. [also VN] 3 [VN] (informal) to use sth for the first time: Let's have a drink to christen our new wine glasses.