NAME

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does name mean? 

• NAME (noun)
  The noun NAME has 6 senses:

1. a language unit by which a person or thing is known

2. a person's reputation

3. family based on male descent

4. a well-known or notable person

5. by the sanction or authority of

6. a defamatory or abusive word or phrase

  Familiarity information: NAME used as a noun is common.

• NAME (verb)
  The verb NAME has 9 senses:

1. assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

2. give the name or identifying characteristics of; refer to by name or some other identifying characteristic property

3. charge with a function; charge to be

4. create and charge with a task or function

5. mention and identify by name

6. make reference to

7. identify as in botany or biology, for example

8. give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of

9. determine or distinguish the nature of a problem or an illness through a diagnostic analysis

  Familiarity information: NAME used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NAME (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A language unit by which a person or thing is known

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

those are two names for the same thing

Hypernyms ("name" is a kind of...):

language unit; linguistic unit (one of the natural units into which linguistic messages can be analyzed)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "name"):

assumed name; DBA; Doing Business As; fictitious name ((law) a name under which a corporation conducts business that is not the legal name of the corporation as shown in its articles of incorporation)

brand; brand name; marque; trade name (a name given to a product or service)

domain name (strings of letters and numbers (separated by periods) that are used to name organizations and computers and addresses on the internet)

company name (the name by which a corporation is identified)

signature (your name written in your own handwriting)

place name; toponym (the name by which a geographical place is known)

title (the name of a work of art or literary composition etc.)

hypocorism; pet name (a name of endearment (especially one using a diminutive suffix))

appellation; appellative; denomination; designation (identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others)

author's name; writer's name (the name that appears on the by-line to identify the author of a work)

misnomer (an incorrect or unsuitable name)

anonym; nom de guerre; pseudonym (a fictitious name used when the person performs a particular social role)

alias; assumed name; false name (a name that has been assumed temporarily)

nickname (a descriptive name for a place or thing)

eponym (the person for whom something is named)

first name; forename; given name (the name that precedes the surname)

agnomen (an additional name or an epithet appended to a name (as in 'Ferdinand the Great'))

eponym (the name derived from a person (real or imaginary))

computer file name; computer filename; file name; filename ((computer science) the name given to a computer file in order to distinguish it from other files; may contain an extension that indicates the type of file)

geographical indication; GI ((law) a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin)

patronym; patronymic (a family name derived from name of your father or a paternal ancestor (especially with an affix (such as -son in English or O'- in Irish) added to the name of your father or a paternal ancestor))

matronymic; metronymic (a name derived from the name of your mother or a maternal ancestor)

street name (the name of a street)

street name (the name of a brokerage firm in which stock is held on behalf of a customer)

street name (slang for something (especially for an illegal drug))

cognomen; family name; last name; surname (the name used to identify the members of a family (as distinguished from each member's given name))

middle name (a name between your first name and your surname)

Derivation:

name (identify as in botany or biology, for example)

name (mention and identify by name)

name (make reference to)

name (assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A person's reputation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

he wanted to protect his good name

Hypernyms ("name" is a kind of...):

reputation; repute (the state of being held in high esteem and honor)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Family based on male descent

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

gens; name

Context example:

he had no sons and there was no one to carry on his name

Hypernyms ("name" is a kind of...):

family; family line; folk; kinfolk; kinsfolk; phratry; sept (people descended from a common ancestor)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A well-known or notable person

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

figure; name; public figure

Context example:

she is an important figure in modern music

Hypernyms ("name" is a kind of...):

important person; influential person; personage (a person whose actions and opinions strongly influence the course of events)

Sense 5

Meaning:

By the sanction or authority of

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

halt in the name of the law

Hypernyms ("name" is a kind of...):

sanction (the act of final authorization)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A defamatory or abusive word or phrase

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

epithet; name

Hypernyms ("name" is a kind of...):

calumniation; calumny; defamation; hatchet job; obloquy; traducement (a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "name"):

smear word (an epithet that can be used to smear someone's reputation)

• NAME (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

be known as; call; know as; name

Context example:

The new school was named after the famous Civil Rights leader

Hypernyms (to "name" is one way to...):

label (assign a label to; designate with a label)

Verb group:

call (ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that reflects a quality)

address; call (greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "name"):

refer (use a name to designate)

tag (provide with a name or nickname)

term (name formally or designate with a term)

entitle; title (give a title to)

rename (assign a new name to)

dub; nickname (give a nickname to)

style; title (designate by an identifying term)

baptise; baptize; christen (administer baptism to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody something

Sentence example:

They name him "Bobby"

Derivation:

name (a language unit by which a person or thing is known)

namer (a person who gives a name or names)

naming (the verbal act of naming)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Give the name or identifying characteristics of; refer to by name or some other identifying characteristic property

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

identify; name

Context example:

The almanac identifies the auspicious months

Hypernyms (to "name" is one way to...):

denote; refer (have as a meaning)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "name"):

enumerate; itemise; itemize; recite (specify individually)

list; number (enumerate)

announce (give the names of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

naming (the verbal act of naming)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Charge with a function; charge to be

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

make; name; nominate

Context example:

She was made president of the club

Hypernyms (to "name" is one way to...):

appoint; charge (assign a duty, responsibility or obligation to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "name"):

rename (name again or anew)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody something

Sentence example:

They name her vice president

Derivation:

naming (the act of putting a person into a non-elective position)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Create and charge with a task or function

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

appoint; constitute; name; nominate

Context example:

nominate a committee

Hypernyms (to "name" is one way to...):

constitute; establish; found; institute; plant (set up or lay the groundwork for)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "name"):

pack (set up a committee or legislative body with one's own supporters so as to influence the outcome)

co-opt (appoint summarily or commandeer)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

naming (the act of putting a person into a non-elective position)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Mention and identify by name

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

name your accomplices!

Hypernyms (to "name" is one way to...):

define; determine; fix; limit; set; specify (decide upon or fix definitely)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

name (a language unit by which a person or thing is known)

naming (the verbal act of naming)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Make reference to

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

advert; bring up; cite; mention; name; refer

Context example:

His name was mentioned in connection with the invention

Hypernyms (to "name" is one way to...):

have in mind; mean; think of (intend to refer to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "name"):

touch on (refer to or discuss briefly)

cross-refer (refer from one entry to another, as in catalogues, books, and lists)

drag up; dredge up (mention something unpleasant from the past)

bring up; raise (put forward for consideration or discussion)

namedrop (refer to people that one assumes one's interlocutors admire in order to try to impress them)

cite; quote (refer to for illustration or proof)

remember (mention favorably, as in prayer)

speak of the devil (mention someone's name who just then appears)

commend; remember (mention as by way of greeting or to indicate friendship)

appeal; invoke (cite as an authority; resort to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

name (a language unit by which a person or thing is known)

naming (the verbal act of naming)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Identify as in botany or biology, for example

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

describe; discover; distinguish; identify; key; key out; name

"Name" entails doing...:

assort; class; classify; separate; sort; sort out (arrange or order by classes or categories)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

name (a language unit by which a person or thing is known)

naming (the verbal act of naming)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

list; name

Context example:

List the states west of the Mississippi

Hypernyms (to "name" is one way to...):

enumerate; itemise; itemize; recite (specify individually)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 9

Meaning:

Determine or distinguish the nature of a problem or an illness through a diagnostic analysis

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

diagnose; name

Hypernyms (to "name" is one way to...):

analyse; analyze; canvass; examine; study (consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "name"):

explore (examine minutely)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

Well, perhaps I have: to speak truth, I have an acquaintance with one of them, Mrs. Poole—I started to my feet when I heard the name.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

A designation or description of the application environment or discipline in which a name is applied or from which it originates.

(Application Context, NCI Thesaurus)

You have but to name it.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Having no known name or identity or known source.

(Anonymous, NCI Thesaurus)

The individual is able to describe the object in question, but cannot provide the name.

(Anomia, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Named locations of or within the body.

(Anatomic Site, NCI Thesaurus)

“That is the name,” he said.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The Billy is named for the French city in which it was created.

(Billy, NCI Thesaurus)

There are many variants and many names.

(Benign Fibrous Histiocytoma, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Roxton, the man who had earned himself the name of the Flail of the Lord through three countries, was not one who could be safely taunted.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)