design
/dɪˈzaɪn/ noun, verb
Forms designs designing designed designest designedst designeth
- noun 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.
- noun 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.”
- noun 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”
- noun The composition of a work of art.
- noun Intention or plot. “We have designs on winning the league next season.”
- noun The shape or appearance given to an object, especially one that is intended to make it more attractive.
- noun The art of designing “Danish furniture design is world-famous.”
- verb (transitive) To plan and carry out (a picture, work of art, construction etc.). “comments designed to chip away at my self-esteem”
- verb (obsolete, intransitive) To plan (to do something). “The king designed to mount an expedition to the New World.”
- verb (obsolete, transitive) To assign, appoint (something to someone); to designate.
- verb (obsolete, transitive) To mark out and exhibit; to designate; to indicate; to show; to point out; to appoint.
- verb To manifest requirements to be satisfied by an object or process for them to solve a problem.
Synonyms
diagram blueprint plan plot project proposal scheme designing pattern figure purpose intent intention aim invention innovation excogitation conception contrive
Etymology
From Middle English designen, from Old French designer, from Latin designō (“to mark out, point out, describe, design, contrive”), from de- (or dis-) + signō (“to mark”), from signum (“mark”). Doublet of designate.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To draw preliminary outline or main features of; to sketch for a pattern or model; to delineate; to trace out; to draw. Dryden.
- verb To mark out and exhibit; to designate; to indicate; to show; to point out; to appoint.
- verb To form a design or designs; to plan. Design for, to intend to go to. [Obs.] "From this city she designed for Collin [Cologne]." Evelyn.
- noun A preliminary sketch; an outline or pattern of the main features of something to be executed, as of a picture, a building, or a decoration; a delineation; a plan.
Etymology [F. désigner to designate, cf. F. dessiner to draw, dessin drawing, dessein a plan or scheme; all, ultimately, from L. designare to designate; de- + signare to mark, mark out, signum mark, sign. See Sign, and cf. Design, n., Designate.]
Etymology [Cf. dessein, dessin.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “design”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details