designate

[ verb dez-ig-neyt; adjective dez-ig-nit, -neyt ]
/ verb ˈdɛz ɪgˌneɪt; adjective ˈdɛz ɪg nɪt, -ˌneɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR designate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), des·ig·nat·ed, des·ig·nat·ing.

to mark or point out; indicate; show; specify.
to denote; indicate; signify.
to name; entitle; style.
to nominate or select for a duty, office, purpose, etc.; appoint; assign.

adjective

named or selected for an office, position, etc., but not yet installed (often used in combination following the noun it modifies): ambassador-designate.

Origin of designate

1640–50; < Latin dēsignātus, past participle of dēsignāre. See design, -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM designate

Words nearby designate

desiderate, desiderative, desideratum, desiderium, design, designate, designated, designated driver, designated employment, designated hitter, designation

Words related to designatory

denotative, denotive, indicative, referring, denoting, expressed, implying, signifying

Example sentences from the Web for designatory

  • Names descriptive or designatory of these forms are frequently applied to them.

    The Butterfly Book |William Jacob Holland

British Dictionary definitions for designatory

designate

verb (ˈdɛzɪɡˌneɪt) (tr)

to indicate or specify
to give a name to; style; entitle
to select or name for an office or duty; appoint

adjective (ˈdɛzɪɡnɪt, -ˌneɪt)

(immediately postpositive) appointed, but not yet in office a minister designate

Derived forms of designate

designative or designatory (ˌdɛzɪɡˈneɪtrɪ), adjective designator, noun

Word Origin for designate

C15: from Latin dēsignātus marked out, defined; see design