English
design
Etymology

From Middle English designen, from Old French designer, from Latin designō, from de- (or dis-) + signō ("I mark"), from signum ("mark").

Pronunciation
  • IPA: /dɪˈzaɪn/
Noun

design

  1. A specification of an object or process, referring to requirements to be satisfied and thus conditions to be met for them to solve a problem.
  2. A plan (with more or less detail) for the structure and functions of an artifact, building or system.
    The initial design of the park was rejected for being too expensive.
  3. A pattern, as an element of a work of art or architecture.
    We're working on some new designs for our range of summer shirts
  4. The composition of a work of art.
  5. Intention or plot.
    We have designs on winning the league next season.
    To be hateful of the truth by design.
    1. (particularly) Malicious or malevolent intention.
      To have evil designs.
  6. The shape or appearance given to an object, especially one that is intended to make it more attractive.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC ↗:
      He turned back to the scene before him and the enormous new block of council dwellings. The design was some way after Corbusier but the block was built up on plinths and resembled an Atlantic liner swimming diagonally across the site.
  7. The art of designing
    Danish furniture design is world-famous.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Verb

design (designs, present participle designing; simple past and past participle designed)

  1. (transitive) To plan and carry out (a picture, work of art, construction etc.). [from 17th c.]
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC ↗:
      The huge square box, parquet-floored and high-ceilinged, had been arranged to display a suite of bedroom furniture designed and made in the halcyon days of the last quarter of the nineteenth century, when modish taste was just due to go clean out of fashion for the best part of the next hundred years.
  2. (obsolete, intransitive) To plan (to do something).
    The king designed to mount an expedition to the New World.
  3. (obsolete, transitive) To assign, appoint (something to someone); to designate. [16th]
    • 1646, Thomas Browne, chapter I, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], London: […] T[homas] H[arper] for Edward Dod, […], →OCLC ↗, 1st book, page 10 ↗:
      he looks not below the Moon, but hath designed the regiment of sublunary affairs unto inferiour deputations.
    • 1700, John Dryden, Translations from Ovid's Epistles, Preface:
      He was designed to the study of the law.
  4. (obsolete, transitive) To mark out and exhibit; to designate; to indicate; to show; to point out; to appoint.
  5. To manifest requirements to be satisfied by an object or process for them to solve a problem.
    • 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act I, scene i]:
      We shall see / Justice design the victor's chivalry.
    • 1616–1619 (first performance), John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, Nathan Field, “The Knight of Malta”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC ↗, Act I, scene iii:
      Meet me to-morrow where the master / And this fraternity shall design.
Translations

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