noun
baptism
BAP-tih-zuhm
noun
1
A Christian ceremony of initiation in which a person is sprinkled with or immersed in water, symbolically welcoming them into the church.
"The baby's baptism took place at the family's local parish."
"She was baptized as an adult after joining the church."
2
Figuratively, any difficult or formative first experience that tests or introduces someone to something new.
"Losing his first big client was a real baptism into running a business."
How to Use Baptism
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe Christian ritual of being welcomed into the church with water; also used figuratively for a tough first experience.
Common pairings
baptism by fire
infant baptism
baptism ceremony
Word Forms
baptisms plural
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Etymology
From Old French bapteme, from Late Latin baptisma, from Greek baptisma ("dipping, immersion"), from baptizein ("to dip in water"). It replaced the native Old English word fulwiht.