■ noun the Christian rite of sprinkling water on to a person's forehead or of immersing them in water, symbolizing purification or regeneration and admission to the Christian Church.
Phrases
~ of fire a difficult introduction to a new job or experience.
Derivatives
~al adjective
Origin
ME: from OFr. baptesme , via eccles. L. from eccles. Gk ~os , from Gk baptizein 'immerse, baptize'.