baptise

Everyday

1. (church) To baptise someone is to give them the Christian ceremony of baptism, pouring water on them or putting them in water as a sign of joining Christ and the Church. tree →
2. To baptise can also mean to give a name at baptism (christen). tree →

In the lessons

In church, a priest or minister baptises babies, children or adults; some churches baptise only believers old enough to choose. In the Bible, John baptised people in the river Jordan. Phrases: baptise a baby, be baptised, baptise in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Examples

• The priest will baptise my baby sister on Sunday. tree →
• John baptised Jesus in the river Jordan. tree →
• The pastor baptises new believers in the lake. tree →
• They baptised her Grace, after her grandmother. tree →
• "I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." tree →
• Some churches do not baptise babies. tree →

Note

UK/Australian baptise, US/Canadian baptize. Past baptised. Noun baptism; person who baptises can be a priest, minister or pastor. Drop the e before -ing: baptising.