baptism of / by fire a difficult or painful first experience of something（战）火的洗礼，初次的痛苦经历（考验）:•The campaign has been a baptism of fire.这场运动等于是一次火的洗礼。—baptismal / bæpˈtɪzml ; bæpˈtɪzməl / adj. only before noun•a baptismal font(=container for holding the water used at baptism) 洗礼盆，圣水盂 |