design

verb

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de·sign | \ di-ˈzīn

designed; designing; designs

Definition of design

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to create, fashion, execute, or construct according to plan : devise, contrive design a system for tracking inventory

2a : to conceive and plan out in the mind he designed the perfect crime

b : to have as a purpose : intend she designed to excel in her studies

c : to devise for a specific function or end a book designed primarily as a college textbook a suitcase designed to hold a laptop computer

3 archaic : to indicate with a distinctive mark, sign, or name

4a : to make a drawing, pattern, or sketch of … a curious woman whose dresses always looked as if they had been designed in a rage …— Oscar Wilde

b : to draw the plans for design a building designing a new bike

intransitive verb

1 : to conceive or execute a plan

2 : to draw, lay out, or prepare a design was trained to design for homes and offices

design

noun

Definition of design (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : a particular purpose or intention held in view by an individual or group He has ambitious designs for his son.

b : deliberate purposive planning more by accident than design

2 : a mental project or scheme in which means to an end are laid down was never part of my design

3a : a deliberate undercover project or scheme : plot a declaration of a design upon his life— John Locke

b designs plural : aggressive or evil intent —used with on or against he has designs on the money

4 : a preliminary sketch or outline showing the main features of something to be executed the design for the new stadium

5a : an underlying scheme that governs functioning, developing, or unfolding : pattern, motif the general design of the epic

b : a plan or protocol for carrying out or accomplishing something (such as a scientific experiment) also : the process of preparing this

6 : the arrangement of elements or details in a product or work of art … his sense of structure, both in the general design of Paradise Lost and Samson, and in his syntax …— T. S. Eliot

7 : a decorative pattern a floral design

8 : the creative art of executing aesthetic or functional designs studied design in college

Other Words from design Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing design Learn More About design

Choose the Right Synonym for design

Noun

intention, intent, purpose, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain. intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about. announced his intention to marry intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness. the clear intent of the statute purpose suggests a more settled determination. being successful was her purpose in life design implies a more carefully calculated plan. the order of events came by accident, not design aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing. her aim was to raise film to an art form end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such. willing to use any means to achieve his end object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need. his constant object was the achievement of pleasure objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable. their objective is to seize the oil fields goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship. worked years to reach her goals

plan, design, plot, scheme, project mean a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end. plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation. plans for a house design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony. a design for a new dress plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions. the plot of the play scheme stresses calculation of the end in view and may apply to a plan motivated by craftiness and self-interest. a scheme to defraud the government project often stresses imaginative scope and vision. a project to develop the waterfront

Examples of design in a Sentence

Verb A team of engineers designed the new engine. Who designed the book's cover? He designed the chair to adjust automatically. They thought they could design the perfect crime. design a strategy for battle Noun There are problems with the design of the airplane's landing gear. I like the design of the textbook. I love the sculpture's design. The machine had a flawed design. the design and development of new products Correcting mistakes is part of the design process. a number of design concepts See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb In what ways can design inform or help conversations around the climate? — Leah Dolan, CNN, 14 Sep. 2022 But what’s notable this year is that Nvidia beat the competition with its new H100 Tensor Core Graphics Processing Units, which are based on an A.I.-specific chip design the company calls Hopper. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 Their input helped officials design final versions of both online and paper forms with simplified language and minimal text on the page. — Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 12 Sep. 2022 The data the city collects helps it to manage the flow of tourists at crowded attractions, optimize parking spaces and design new road networks. — Josh Chin, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 Rapier was not only fully aware of the political activity conducted for the benefit of WellMed but took an active role by helping design many of the political messages, Gutierrez said. — Patrick Danner, San Antonio Express-News, 29 Aug. 2022 In the first episode of the new season, host Tamara Day and her dad will help a recent widow, who loves to cook for her family, design her dream kitchen. — al, 25 Aug. 2022 With a background as a multidisciplinary artist, Cohen approaches design through a visual lens that plays with composition, color, and form in an approachable way. — Allison Duncan, House Beautiful, 23 Aug. 2022 High-definition television has changed the way set decorators design a scene, because viewers now can see every detail, Baseman said. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Learn the basic principles of floral design and create your own table arrangement. — oregonlive, 16 Sep. 2022 Wood paneling is a key feature of midcentury modern design. — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2022 As America’s use of sanctions grows, such efforts have become a booming field of public-policy design and, occasionally, bold experiments. — Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2022 The estimated cost of the project design is in the $35,000 range. — Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 13 Sep. 2022 Each designer incorporated different elements of contemporary coastal design into the space, according to the publication, using pops of color, pattern and texture to make the home stand out with both functionality and beauty. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2022 Everything from the soft curves in the white walls to the plants and stone floors were just breathtaking—a reminder of the genius of design when in harmony with nature. — Kerry Pieri, Harper's BAZAAR, 12 Sep. 2022 But also the many tools of interactive design, like a first-generation iPod and Susan Kare’s sketchbook of icons for the original Apple Macintosh. — WIRED, 11 Sep. 2022 And there is a thriving industry in selling the mythology of sneaker design. — New York Times, 10 Sep. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'design.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.