christen

/ˈkrɪsn/ (bre, ipa) · [krˈɪsən] /ˈkrɪsn/ (ame, ipa) · [krˈɪsən] /ˈkri-sᵊn How to pronounce christen (audio)/ (ame, mw)

christen — verb

  • christenpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • christenshe / she / it
  • christenedpast simple
  • christening-ing form

1. to name a baby or convert in a church baptism that marks the person's entry into

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to name a baby or convert in a church baptism that marks the person's entry into the Christian faith

例句

The priest christened baby Jude during the Sunday service at Saint Mary's.

christen + person during a church service

Rachel and Tariq christened their daughter before the whole church.

同義詞
  • baptize

    the broader religious verb; 'christen' often stresses the naming part

  • name

    much broader and not necessarily religious

文法句型

christen + baby/person

christen + person + during/at + service

用法筆記

Used in Christian contexts, often for babies but also for adult converts. Unlike sense 4, this sense includes the baptism ceremony itself.

常見錯誤

❌They christened for the baby on Sunday.
✅They christened the baby on Sunday.
💡'christen' takes the person as a direct object.

2. to call someone by a new name because people notice a particular quality or habi

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

to call someone by a new name because people notice a particular quality or habit in them

例句

Because Rohan never hurried, the team christened him Slow Train.

christen + person + nickname

At school, classmates christened Kasia Compass for her perfect sense of direction.

同義詞
  • dub

    common in journalism and public commentary

  • nickname

    the everyday verb for giving someone an informal name

  • label

    often suggests a judgment rather than an affectionate nickname

文法句型

christen + person + nickname

christen + person + for/because + trait

用法筆記

The added name is usually a descriptive nickname, and the reason often follows with 'because' or 'for'.

常見錯誤

❌The team christened him as Slow Train.
✅The team christened him Slow Train.
💡do not use 'as' before the new name.

3. to give a new object its first real use, especially on an occasion that feels im

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to give a new object its first real use, especially on an occasion that feels important

例句

The mayor christened the new library computer with a search for local history.

christen + object with its first use

Joon christened his hiking boots on a steep trail near Hualien.

同義詞
  • break in

    informal and common for clothes, shoes, or tools

  • inaugurate

    more formal and often used for systems, buildings, or events

  • try out

    emphasizes testing rather than a symbolic first use

文法句型

christen + object + with + first use

christen + object + by + doing something

用法筆記

Often slightly playful, especially when the object is new and the first use feels special.

常見錯誤

❌We christened the new camera for the wedding.
✅We christened the new camera at the wedding.
💡mention the first occasion or action, not only the purpose.

4. to choose and give an official or memorable name to a person, animal, place, obj

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

to choose and give an official or memorable name to a person, animal, place, object, or project

例句

The family christened their son Leo after his great-grandfather.

christen + person + name

Engineers christened the project Aurora before the first public meeting.

同義詞
  • name

    the neutral everyday choice

  • call

    common in speech and can be less formal

  • dub

    often used in the media or for creative titles

文法句型

christen + person/thing + name

christen + thing + after + person/event

用法筆記

Broader than sense 1 and not tied to church ritual. It is used for children, pets, places, objects, and projects.

常見錯誤

❌They christened on the park Riverside.
✅They christened the park Riverside.
💡put the thing being named directly after the verb.