/'bæptɪzəm; `bæptɪzəm/ n
1 (a) [U] ceremony marking a person's admission into the Christian Church either by dipping him in water or by sprinkling him with water, and often giving him a name or names 洗礼, 浸礼（基督教的入教仪式）.
(b) [C] instance of this 洗礼; 浸礼
*There were six baptisms at this church last week. 上星期这个教堂为六个人施行了洗礼.
2 (idm 习语) a,baptism of `fire
(a) soldier's first experience of warfare战火的洗礼（指士兵初次上阵）.
(b) introduction to an unpleasant experience 初次的不愉快经历
*a young teacher facing her baptism of fire 面对初登讲台考验的年轻女教师.

n [U and C]
a Christian religious ceremony in which someone is touched or covered with water to welcome them into the Christian faith, and sometimes to officially name them
→christening
baptism of/by fire
a difficult or painful first experience of something
　For the inexperienced in the team, the campaign has been a baptism of fire.
>baptismal [bæp'tɪzməl/