ENGLISH
REFERENCE

naming

n. · v. · adj.
US //ˈneɪmɪŋ// UK //nˈeɪmɪŋ// nam·ing
  1. 1 the act of giving a name (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the process of choosing or giving a name to something new.

    the act or process of assigning a name to an object, concept, or person for identification.

    Example

    The naming of the new park took several months of public debate.

    Example

    The naming of chemical compounds follows a strict set of international rules to ensure clarity across different languages.

  2. 2 a ceremony (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Religion

    a special event or ritual where a person, like a baby, is officially given their name.

    a formal ceremony or ritual during which a person is given a name or their name is publicly announced.

    Example

    The whole family gathered for the baby's naming ceremony on Sunday.

    Example

    Traditional naming ceremonies in many cultures serve as a vital rite of passage, welcoming the infant into the community.

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  1. 3 identifying or choosing (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the action of saying the name of someone or something, or choosing someone for a job.

    the present participle or gerund form of 'name', used to describe the act of identifying or appointing.

    Example

    She had trouble naming all the capital cities in the quiz.

    Example

    Naming a successor before the official retirement date helped stabilize the company's stock price during the transition.

  2. 4 giving a name (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    describing something that gives or provides a name.

    functioning as a modifier to describe the act of providing or assigning a name.

    Example

    The naming rights for the stadium were sold to a large tech company.

    Example

    The committee focused on the naming conventions used in the database to ensure every entry was easily searchable.

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