Definition

1. Noun:
   • A Christian sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth: A religious ceremony involving the application of water, symbolizing purification, admission to the Christian Church, and spiritual renewal.
   • A significant inaugural experience or ordeal: A person's first experience of something, especially a difficult or challenging one that initiates them into a new role or situation.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Religious Sacrament):
  • The baby's baptism will be held at the church next Sunday.
  • He converted to Christianity and received adult baptism.
• Noun (Inaugural Experience):
  • His first day as a teacher was a real baptism of fire.
  • The young reporter's assignment to the war zone was a baptism by fire.

Advanced Usage

• "baptism by/of fire": A difficult first experience of something, especially a challenging introduction to a new job or activity.
  • Managing the crisis during her first week was a true baptism by fire.
• "baptismal" (Adjective): Relating to baptism.
  • The family chose a beautiful baptismal gown for the ceremony.

Variants and Related Words

• Baptize (verb): To administer the sacrament of baptism to someone; to give a name to someone during this ceremony.
  • The priest will baptize the child.
• Baptistry/Baptistery (noun): A part of a church or a separate building used for baptism.
  • The ancient baptistry contained a large font.

Synonyms

• Christening: The Christian sacrament of baptism, especially when accompanied by name-giving.
• Initiation: The action of admitting someone into a group or experience, often with a formal ceremony.
• Ordeal: A painful or difficult experience, similar to the figurative use of "baptism."

Related Phrases

• "baptism of blood": (Historical/Figurative) Martyrdom for one's faith, or a first experience of being wounded in battle.
  • The early saints often faced a baptism of blood.

Related Idioms

• "baptism under fire": Synonymous with "baptism of fire," meaning a severe test or first experience in a difficult situation.
  • The new recruits faced their baptism under fire during the training exercise.

Noun

1. a Christian sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth
   • most churches baptize infants but some insist on adult baptism