(an instance of) the Christian ceremony of touching a person with, or putting a person in, water, to show that he or she is accepted as a member of the church
church rite; initiation
Cases of word usage
1) the give baptism (to a person) (baptize)
2) to receive (a child) into the Christian church and give a name at the baptism (christen)
3) a ceremony of baptism or naming a child (christened)
