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designate

 - 2 dictionary results

des⋅ig⋅nate

  [v. dez-ig-neyt; adj. dez-ig-nit, -neyt] verb, -nat⋅ed, -nat⋅ing, adjective
–verb (used with object)
1. to mark or point out; indicate; show; specify.
2. to denote; indicate; signify.
3. to name; entitle; style.
4. to nominate or select for a duty, office, purpose, etc.; appoint; assign.
–adjective
5. named or selected for an office, position, etc., but not yet installed (often used in combination following the noun it modifies): ambassador-designate.
Use designate in a Sentence
Origin:
1640–50; < L dēsignātus, ptp. of dēsignāre. See design, -ate 1

Related forms:
des⋅ig⋅na⋅tive, des⋅ig⋅na⋅to⋅ry  [dez-ig-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, dez-ig-ney-tuh-ree] , adjective
des⋅ig⋅na⋅tor, noun
des⋅ig⋅nee, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To designate
des·ig·nate   (děz'ĭg-nāt')   
tr.v.   des·ig·nat·ed, des·ig·nat·ing, des·ig·nates

  1. To indicate or specify; point out.

  2. To give a name or title to; characterize.

  3. To select and set aside for a duty, an office, or a purpose. See Synonyms at allocate, appoint.

adj.   (-nĭt)
Appointed but not yet installed in office: the commissioner designate.

[Latin dēsignāre, dēsignāt- : dē-, de- + signāre, to mark (from signum, sign; see sekw-1 in Indo-European roots).]
des'ig·na'tive, des'ig·na·to'ry (-nə-tôr'ē) adj., des'ig·na'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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