names
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Related to names: Meaning of names
name
(nām)n.
1.
a. A word or words by which an entity is designated and distinguished from others.
b. A word or group of words used to describe or evaluate, often disparagingly: Don't call me names.
2. Representation or repute, as opposed to reality: a democracy in name, a police state in fact.
3.
a. A reputation: has a bad name.
b. A distinguished reputation: made a name for himself as a drummer.
4. An illustrious or outstanding person: joined several famous names for a photograph. See Synonyms at celebrity.
tr.v. named, nam·ing, names
1. To give a name to: named the child after both grandparents.
2. To mention, specify, or cite by name: named the primary colors.
3. To call by an epithet: named them all cowards.
4. To nominate for or appoint to a duty, office, or honor. See Synonyms at appoint.
5. To specify or fix: We need to name the time for our meeting.
adj. Informal
Idioms: Well-known by a name: a name performer.
in the name of
1. By the authority of: Open up in the name of the law!
2. For the reason of; using as a reason: grisly experiments performed in the name of science.
to (one's) name
Belonging to one: I don't have a hat to my name.
nam′a·ble, name′a·ble adj.
nam′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Names
a word formed from the initial letters or syllables taken from a group of words that form the name of a company, product, process, etc. — acronymic, acronymous, adj.
Ancient Rome. an additional name, usually given in honor of some signal achievement; hence, a nickname. — agnominal, adj.
a name of one person used by another, such as a writer using the name of someone other than himself for concealment of identity or other purpose. Cf. pseudonym. — allonymous, adj.
a branch of onomastics that studies personal names. — anthroponymist, n.
1. the use of an epithet or appellative for an individual’s name, as his excellency.
2. the use of a proper name to express a general idea or to designate others sharing a particular characteristic, as a Rockefeïler. — antonomastic, adj.
2. the use of a proper name to express a general idea or to designate others sharing a particular characteristic, as a Rockefeïler. — antonomastic, adj.
biosystematy. — biosystematic, biosystematical, adj.
the science of the classification of living things. Also biosystematics. — biosystematic, biosystematical, adj.
pertaining to a bad or objectionable name.
1. Ancient Rome. the third and usually last name in Roman personal names, as Caesar of Gaius Julius Caesar.
2. a surname or family name.
3. a nickname. — cognominal. adj.
2. a surname or family name.
3. a nickname. — cognominal. adj.
a secret name.
1. the name of a real or legendary person that has been applied to a thing, institution, etc, as atlas.
2. the name of a person that is used to describe a time or period, as the Augustan Age. — eponymic, eponymous, adj.
2. the name of a person that is used to describe a time or period, as the Augustan Age. — eponymic, eponymous, adj.
the derivation of names for tribes, nations, or places, from that of a person, whether real or imaginary. Also eponymy. — eponymous, eponymic, adj.
a real or legendary person whose name has been used as an eponym.
a name that is apt or fitting.
Rare. a name derived from that of a son.
1. the creation or use of pet names, as Dick for Richard.
2. a pet name.
3. baby talk. — hypocoristic, adj.
2. a pet name.
3. baby talk. — hypocoristic, adj.
a rhetorical or stylistic device in which one thing is named or referred to by the name of another, related thing; for example, the use of White House in referring to the presidential administration. — metonym, n. — metonymous, metonymie, metonymical, adj.
a name derived from a mother or a female ancestor. Cf. patronymic.
onomancy.
1. a system of names used in the classification of an art or science or other field or subject.
2. a naming system peculiar to a social group. See also books; classification; language; nature.
2. a naming system peculiar to a social group. See also books; classification; language; nature.
a form of divination involving the letters of a name. Also called nomancy.
a dictionary of proper names. — onomastic, adj.
onomatology. — onomastician, n. — onomastic, adj.
the science or study of the origin and forms of proper names. Also called onomastics. — onomatologist, n. — onomatological, adj.
a preoccupation with words or names.
an abnormal fear of a certain name or word.
Biology. a technical name, as one that forms part of a system of nomenclature or classification.
the application of onyms; classification or systematic nomenclature.
the nomenclature of organs. — organonymal. organonymic, adj.
a name derived from one’s child.
Rare. the tracing of the origins of personal names.
a name derived from a father or paternal ancestor. Cf. metronymic.
the simultaneous use of several names or synonyms for one thing.
the use of various names for one thing. — polyonymous, adj.
a nom de plume or fictitious name, especially one used by an author to conceal his identity. Cf. allonymy. — pseudonymous, adj.
a nickname.
a botanical or zoological name in which two terms are combined, the generic name and the specific, with both being the same. (a practice no longer approved by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature.)
1. a place name.
2. a personal name derived from a place name.
2. a personal name derived from a place name.
1. the study of the place names of a district.
2. Anatomy. the nomenclature of the regions of the body. — toponymie, toponymical, adj.
2. Anatomy. the nomenclature of the regions of the body. — toponymie, toponymical, adj.
the use of three terms or names in the classification of a species, genus, variety, etc. — trinomial, n., adj.
a trinomial or name composed of three terms.
Rare. a universal system of nomenclature or classification.
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Names
see Also: MEMORY
- (Alex) acquired names as other women encrust themselves with jewels —Patrick White
- Forgotten names sang through my head like forgotten scenes in dreams —Ralph Ellison
- Fools’ names like fools’ faces, are often seen in public places —Thomas Fuller
- Handed [told it to her] her his name as though he were extending a card on a copper salver —Harvey Swados
- His name [a politician’s] has become as institutionalized as a detergent —Robert Traver
- It is with you as with the seas: the most varied names are given to what is in the end only salt water —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- Lost their names like marbles on the schoolyard —George Garrett
- Making fun of your name is like making fun of your nose —Willie Morris
- Names and faces eluded him like ghosts —William Diehl
- Patients … they are as patient as their name —Randall Jarrell
- Called me ‘chéri’ in such a way that it was a small fruit on her tongue —R. Wright Campbell
- some people have names like pitchforks, some people have names like cakes —Stephen Vincent Benet
- Sounds like a name you’d see on a bracelet at Walgreen’s —Richard Ford
The character who thus expresses her discontent in the novel, The Sportswriter, happens to be named Vicki.
- You carry your name forever, like a scepter alive with wings —Stephen Vincent Benet
- Your name like a lozenge upon my tongue —Charles Wright
Similes Dictionary, 1st Edition. © 1988 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. |  names - verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument; "sticks and stones may break my bones but names can never hurt me"calumniation, calumny, defamation, hatchet job, traducement, obloquy - a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions |
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