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name

n. · v.
US //ˈneɪm// UK //nˈeɪm// name
  1. 1 identification (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    the word or words that a person, thing, or place is known by.

    a word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known, addressed, or referred to.

    Example

    Please write your full name at the top of the application form.

    Example

    The explorer insisted that the local name for the mountain be preserved on all official maps produced by the expedition.
  2. 2 reputation (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the opinion that people have about someone or something.

    a person's or entity's reputation, especially regarding character or professional standing.

    Example

    The company has a good name for providing excellent customer service.

    Example

    After years of dishonest dealings, the merchant found it impossible to clear his name in the small trading community.
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  1. 3 computing identifier (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Technical Computing

    a unique string of characters used to identify a file or data.

    a unique string of characters used as an identifier within a system or database.

    Example

    You need to choose a unique user name to log into the website.

    Example

    The system administrator warned that the domain name must be registered before the website could go live.
  2. 4 to give a title (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to give a name to a person, animal, or thing.

    to give a specific name to someone or something; often used in the passive voice.

    Example

    They decided to name their new puppy 'Buster' because he was so active.

    Example

    The city council voted to name the new bridge after the local poet who had campaigned for its construction.
  3. 5 to specify or mention (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to say the name of someone or something, or to choose a specific time.

    to mention or specify someone or something by name; to identify a particular instance or value.

    Example

    Can you name the three largest cities in your country?

    Example

    The witness was asked to name the individuals she saw leaving the building on the night of the robbery.
  4. 6 to appoint (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    to choose someone for a particular job or position.

    to designate or appoint someone to a particular role, office, or duty.

    Example

    The president will name a new minister for education next week.

    Example

    The board of directors is expected to name a successor to the outgoing CEO during the annual general meeting.
Etymology 1

PIE word *h₁nómn̥ Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁nómn̥ Proto-Germanic *namô Proto-West Germanic *namō Old English nama Middle English name English name From Middle English name, nome, from Old English nama, noma, from Proto-West Germanic namō, from Proto-Germanic namô (“name”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁nómn̥ (“name”). Cognates Germanic Cognates: Yola naame, name, naume (“name”), North Frisian Naam, neem, noome, nööm (“name”), Saterland Frisian Nome, Noome (“name”), West Frisian namme (“name”), Alemannic German Naame, namä, noame, nomu, nàmund (“name”), Cimbrian naamo, name, nåm (“name”), Dutch naam, name (“name”), German Nahme, Name (“name”), German Low German Naam (“name”), Luxembourgish Numm (“name”), Mòcheno nu'm (“name”), Vilamovian noma (“name”), Yiddish נאָמען (nomen, “name”), Danish, Faroese and Norwegian Bokmål navn (“name”), Icelandic nafn (“name”), Norwegian Nynorsk nabn, namn (“name”), Swedish namn (“name”), Gothic 𐌽𐌰𐌼𐍉 (namō, “name”). Indo-European Cognates: Latin nōmen (“name”) (whence Spanish nombre (“name”)), Russian имя (imja, “name”), Ashkun nām (“name”), Kamkata-viri nom, num (“name”), Prasuni nom, nëmë (“name”), Waigali nām (“name”), Sanskrit नामन् (nā́man, “name”). Possible cognates outside of Indo-European include Finnish nimi (“name”) and Hungarian név (“name”). Doublet of nomen and noun.

Etymology 2

From Middle English namen, from Old English namian (“to name, mention”) and ġenamian (“to name, call, appoint”), from Proto-West Germanic *namōn (“to name”). Cognate with West Frisian neame (“to name; to mention”). Compare also Old English nemnan, nemnian (“to name, give a name to a person or thing”).

Etymology 3

Borrowed from Spanish ñame, substituting n for the unfamiliar Spanish letter ñ. Doublet of yam.

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