designate

views updated May 14 2018

des·ig·nate • v. / ˈdezigˌnāt/ [tr.] (often be desigated) appoint (someone) to a specified position: he was designated as prime minister. ∎  officially assign a specified status or ascribe a specified name or quality to: [tr.] certain schools are designated “science schools” | a personality disorder that Adler designates the Ruling Type. ∎  signify; indicate: the term “brainstem” designates the medulla, pons, and mesencephalon.• adj. / -nit; -ˌnāt/ appointed to an office or position but not yet installed: the Director designate.DERIVATIVES: des·ig·na·tor / -ˌnātər/ n.