Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

middle name

 noun
     
middle name [countable]
1 the name that is between your first name and your family name
2

something is somebody's middle name

informal used to say that someone has a personal quality very strongly:
Don't worry - discretion is my middle name.
WORD FOCUS: name WORD FOCUS: name
someone's first name: first name, given name especially AmE, Christian name
someone's family name: family name, last name, surname, maiden name (a woman's family name before she gets married)
the name between your first and last name: middle name
all of the words of someone's name: full name
when someone writes their name: signature, autograph (of a famous person)
a name used instead of someone's real name: nickname a short name used by someone's friends or family
pen name/pseudonym a name used by a writer
stage name the name used by an actor
false name, alias a name used especially by a criminal
under an assumed name using a false name in order to hide your identity
the name of a thing: title the name of a book, film, picture etc
common name the name for a plant, animal, substance etc used by ordinary people
scientific name the name used by scientists
term a word or phrase used in technical contexts

➔ See also name
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
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