name Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a language unit by which a person or thing is known
    • his name really is George Washington
    • those are two names for the same thing
  2. noun a person's reputation
    • he wanted to protect his good name
  3. noun family based on male descent
    gens.
    • he had no sons and there was no one to carry on his name
  4. noun a well-known or notable person
    figure; public figure.
    • they studied all the great names in the history of France
    • she is an important figure in modern music
  5. noun by the sanction or authority of
    • halt in the name of the law
  6. noun a defamatory or abusive word or phrase
    epithet.
  7. verb assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
    call.
    • They named their son David
    • The new school was named after the famous Civil Rights leader
  8. verb give the name or identifying characteristics of; refer to by name or some other identifying characteristic property
    identify.
    • Many senators were named in connection with the scandal
    • The almanac identifies the auspicious months
  9. verb charge with a function; charge to be
    nominate; make.
    • She was named Head of the Committee
    • She was made president of the club
  10. verb create and charge with a task or function
    appoint; nominate; constitute.
    • nominate a committee
  11. verb mention and identify by name
    • name your accomplices!
  12. verb make reference to
    bring up; advert; mention; cite; refer.
    • His name was mentioned in connection with the invention
  13. verb identify as in botany or biology, for example
    describe; discover; identify; key; distinguish; key out.
  14. verb give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
    list.
    • List the states west of the Mississippi
  15. verb determine or distinguish the nature of a problem or an illness through a diagnostic analysis
    diagnose.

WordNet

Name noun
Etymology
AS. nama; akin to D. naam, OS. & OHG. namo, G. name, Icel. nafn, for namn, Dan. navn, Sw. namn, Goth. nam&omac;, L. nomen (perh. influenced by noscere, gnoscere, to learn to know), Gr. 'o`mona, Scr. naman. Cf. Anonymous, Ignominy, Misnomer, Nominal, Noun.
Definitions
  1. The title by which any person or thing is known or designated; a distinctive specific appellation, whether of an individual or a class.
    Whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. Gen. ii. 19.
    What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet. Shak.
  2. A descriptive or qualifying appellation given to a person or thing, on account of a character or acts.
    His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Is. ix. 6.
  3. Reputed character; reputation, good or bad; estimation; fame; especially, illustrious character or fame; honorable estimation; distinction.
    What men of name resort to him? Shak.
    Far above ... every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. Eph. i. 21.
    I will get me a name and honor in the kingdom. 1 Macc. iii. 14.
    He hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin. Deut. xxii. 19.
    The king's army ...had left no good name behind. Clarendon.
  4. Those of a certain name; a race; a family.
    The ministers of the republic, mortal enemies of his name, came every day to pay their feigned civilities. Motley.
  5. A person, an individual. Poetic
    They list with women each degenerate name. Dryden.
    Syn. -- Appellation; title; designation; cognomen; denomination; epithet. -- Name, Appellation, Title, Denomination. Name is generic, denoting that combination of sounds or letters by which a person or thing is known and distinguished. Appellation, although sometimes put for name simply, denotes, more properly, a descriptive term, used by way of marking some individual peculiarity or characteristic; as, Charles the Bold, Philip the Stammerer. A title is a term employed to point out one's rank, office, etc.; as, the Duke of Bedford, Paul the Apostle, etc. Denomination is to particular bodies what appellation is to individuals; thus, the church of Christ is divided into different denominations, as Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, etc.
Name transitive verb
Etymology
AS. namian. See Name, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Named ; present participle & verbal noun Naming
Definitions
  1. To give a distinctive name or appellation to; to entitle; to denominate; to style; to call.
    She named the child Ichabod. 1 Sam. iv. 21.
    Thus was the building left Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named. Milton.
  2. To mention by name; to utter or publish the name of; to refer to by distinctive title; to mention.
    None named thee but to praise. Halleck.
    Old Yew, which graspest at the stones That name the underlying dead. Tennyson.
  3. To designate by name or specifically for any purpose; to nominate; to specify; to appoint; as, to name a day for the wedding.
    Whom late you have named for consul. Shak.
  4. (House of Commons) To designate (a member) by name, as the Speaker does by way of reprimand. Syn. -- To denominate; style; term; call; mention; specify; designate; nominate.

Webster 1913