Definition of "name" in English

noun

1. Any nounal word or phrase which indicates a particular person, place, class, or thing.

   • I've never liked the name my parents gave me so I changed it at the age of twenty.
   • What's your name? Puddintane. Ask me again and I'll tell you the same.

2. A reputation.

   • And David won a name for himself.

3. An abusive or insulting epithet.

   • Stop calling me names!

4. A person (or legal person).

   • p. 2002, second edition of, 2002, Graham Richards, Putting Psychology in its Place, →ISBN, page 287 http://books.google.com/books?id=7bxvJIs5_wsC&pg=PA287&dq=names Later British psychologists interested in this topic include such major names as Cyril Burt, William McDougall, […] .
   • Would it be able to fight the competition from ITC Agro Tech and Liptons who were ready and able to commit large resources? With such big names as competitors, would this business be viable for Marico?
   • International non-governmental organisations (INGOs), including such household names as Amnesty International, Greenpeace and […] .

5. Those of a certain name; a race; a family.

6. An authority; a behalf.

   • Halt in the name of the law!

7. (computing) An identifier, generally a unique string of characters.

8. (UK, finance) An investor in Lloyd's of London bearing unlimited liability.

verb

1. (ditransitive) To give a name to.

   • One visitor named Hou Yugang said he was not too concerned about climate change and Baishui’s melting.

2. (transitive) To mention, specify.

   • He named his demands.
   • You name it!
   • You have to pot the ball in the pocket you've named.

3. (transitive) To identify as relevant or important

   • naming the problem

4. (transitive) To publicly implicate by name.

   • The painter was named as an accomplice.

5. (transitive, of a person) To disclose the name of.

   • Police are not naming the suspect as he is a minor.

6. (transitive) To designate for a role.

   • My neighbor was named to the steering committee.

7. (transitive, Westminster system politics) To initiate a process to temporarily remove a member of parliament who is breaking the rules of conduct.