name

pronunciation

How to pronounce name in British English: UK [neɪm] word uk audio image

How to pronounce name in American English: US [neɪm] word us audio image

Noun:

a language unit by which a person or thing is known
by the sanction or authority of
a person's reputation
a well-known or notable person
family based on male descent
a defamatory or abusive word or phrase
Verb:

assign a specified, proper name to
give the name or identifying characteristics of; refer to by name or some other identifying characteristic property
charge with a function; charge to be
create and charge with a task or function
mention and identify by name
identify as in botany or biology, for example
make reference to
give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
determine or distinguish the nature of a problem or an illness through a diagnostic analysis

Word Origin

name: name: [OE] Name is an ancient word, which traces its history back to Indo-European *-nomen-. This has produced Latin nōmen (source of English nominate, noun, etc), Greek ónoma (source of English anonymous [17] – etymologically ‘nameless’ – and synonym [16]), Welsh enw, and Russian imja, among many others. Its prehistoric Germanic descendant was *namōn, which has evolved to German and English name, Dutch naam, Swedish namn, and Danish navn.=> anonymous, nominate, noun, synonym

name (n.): Old English nama, noma "name, reputation," from Proto-Germanic *namon (cognates: Old Saxon namo, Old Frisian nama, Old High German namo, German Name, Middle Dutch name, Dutch naam, Old Norse nafn, Gothic namo "name"), from PIE *nomn- (cognates: Sanskrit nama; Avestan nama; Greek onoma, onyma; Latin nomen; Old Church Slavonic ime, genitive imene; Russian imya; Old Irish ainm; Old Welsh anu "name"). Meaning "famous person" is from 1610s. Meaning "one's reputation" is from c. 1300. As a modifier meaning "well-known," first attested 1938. Name brand is from 1944; name-calling attested from 1846; name-dropper first recorded 1947. name-tag is from 1903; name-child attested from 1845. The name of the game "the essential thing or quality" is from 1966; to have one's name in lights "be a famous performer" is from 1929. He who once a good name gets, May piss a bed, and say he sweats. ["Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit and Pickpocket Eloquence," London, 1811]

name (v.): Old English namian "to name, call; nominate, appoint," from source of name (n.). Related: Named; naming.