Word Study
designate
OXFORD DICTIONARY
designate, v. & adj.
--v.tr.
1 (often foll. by as) appoint to an office or function (designated him as postmaster general; designated his own successor).
2 specify or particularize (receives guests at designated times).
3 (often foll. by as) describe as; entitle, style.
4 serve as the name or distinctive mark of (English uses French words to designate ballet steps).
--adj. (placed after noun) appointed to an office but not yet installed (bishop designate).
--v.tr.
1 (often foll. by as) appoint to an office or function (designated him as postmaster general; designated his own successor).
2 specify or particularize (receives guests at designated times).
3 (often foll. by as) describe as; entitle, style.
4 serve as the name or distinctive mark of (English uses French words to designate ballet steps).
--adj. (placed after noun) appointed to an office but not yet installed (bishop designate).
Derivative
designator n.
Etymology
L designare, past part. designatus (as DE-, signare f. signum mark)
THESAURUS
designate
advert to, allocate, allot, allude to, appoint, apportion, appropriate, assign, baptize, be taken as, call, choose, christen, define, delegate, delineate, denominate, denote, depute, determine, dictate, dub, earmark, elect, emblematize, entitle, figure, finger, fix, identify, indicate, label, make, mark, mean, mention, mete out, name, name for office, nickname, nominate, opt, ordain, ordinate, particularize, pick, pick out, pin down, pinpoint, point at, point out, point to, propose, put down, put up, refer to, represent, reserve, run, run for office, select, set, set forth, signify, single, specialize, specify, stand for, state, stigmatize, stipulate, style, submit, symbol, symbolize, tab, tag, tap, term, title, typify, write downROGET THESAURUS
designate
Phrase
VB express, phrase, word, word it, give words to, give expression to, voice, arrange in words, clothe in words, put into words, express by words, couch in terms, find words to express, speak by the card, call, denominate, designate, dub.Speciality
VB specify, particularize, individualize, realize, specialize, designate, determine, denote, indicate, point out, select, descend to particulars, enter into detail, go into detail, come to the point.For further exploring for "designate" in Webster Dictionary Online