Main Entry: ²des·ig·nate

Pronunciation: \-ˌnāt\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): des·ig·nat·ed; des·ig·nat·ing

Date: 1639

1 : to indicate and set apart for a specific purpose, office, or duty <designate a group to prepare a plan>
2 a : to point out the location of <a marker designating the battle> b : to distinguish as to class <the area we designate as that of spiritual values — J. B. Conant> c : specify, stipulate <to be sent by a designated shipper>
3 : denote <associate names with the people they designate>
4 : to call by a distinctive title, term, or expression <a particle designated the neutron>

— des·ig·na·tive \-ˌnā-tiv\ adjective

— des·ig·na·tor \-ˌnā-tər\ noun

— des·ig·na·to·ry \-nə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective