design

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

  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.
    • The Wikilambda developers charmingly admit that they are not very experienced in language design. - 2026, Michael Falk, “Wikilambda the ultimate: the Wikimedia foundation’s search for the perfect language”, in AI &...
  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.
    • Where it had been left hundreds of years ago, / Extract from the depth, is but a setting sun, / Paradise is scarce in this light that won’t shine, / What is our earthly task, but a worthy design? - 1999, Lætitia Sadier,...
  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.
    • At length, one night, when the company by ſome accident broke up much ſooner than ordinary, ſo that the candles were not half burnt out, ſhe was not able to reſiſt the temptation, but reſolved to have them ſome way or...
  6. The shape or appearance given to an object, especially one that is intended to make it more attractive.
    • 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...
  7. The art of designing
    • Danish furniture design is world-famous.

Origin

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.

Forms

designs

Synonyms

diagram blueprint design plan plot project proposal scheme

Hyponyms

architectural design backward design block design computational design computer-aided design contract-first design cradle-to-cradle design defensive design design by contract domain-driven design experimental design fashion design firmware design flat design functional design graphic design hardware design industrial design information design instructional design intelligent design interaction design interior design model-based design

Related

diagram

Derived

antidesign argument from design biodesign by design designathon design-based learning design code design depth designer design fiction design flaw designful design language designless design load designment designoid design pattern design release engineer design speed design system design thinking design to cost designwise

Verb

  1. To plan and carry out (a picture, work of art, construction etc.).
    • comments designed to chip away at my self-esteem
    • He always designs gaming laptops from 4:00 pm to 1:00 am.
    • She designed his retirement from the Royal Irish Artillery, and had negociated an immediate berth for him on the Staff of the Commander of the Forces, and a prospective one in the household of Lord Townshend […] - 1863,...
  2. To plan (to do something).
    • The king designed to mount an expedition to the New World.
  3. To assign, appoint (something to someone); to designate.
    • he looks not below the Moon, but hath designed the regiment of sublunary affairs unto inferiour deputations. - 1646, Thomas Browne, chapter I, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], London: […] T[homas] H[arper] for Edward Dod,...
    • He was designed to the study of the law. - 1700, John Dryden, Translations from Ovid's Epistles, Preface:
  4. 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.
    • We shall see / Justice design the victor's chivalry. - 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, &...
    • Meet me to-morrow where the master / And this fraternity shall design. - 1616–1619 (first performance), John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, Nathan Field, “The Knight of Malta”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […]...

Forms

designs designing designed no-table-tags glossary design designest designedst designeth -

Derived

a camel is a horse designed by a committee codesign designability designable designed designedly designer foredesign misdesign outdesign overdesign predesign redesign undesign undesignable undesigned undesignedly

Wikipedia

Design