design

A1 Topic:Art & Music

US /dɪˈzaɪn/ UK /dɪˈzaɪn/ See IPA manual

Freq #2549

Meanings

1

noun
A plan or drawing showing how something will be made or how it will work.

The design for the new bridge took two years to complete.
2

verb
To plan and make drawings for something before it is built or made.

She designs furniture for a living.
3

noun
A pattern of lines, shapes or colours used to decorate something.

The plates had a delicate flower design around the edge.
4

verb
To make or intend something for a particular purpose.

This room was designed for meetings, not for work.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a plan or drawing showing... plan diagram

3 noun · a pattern of lines, shapes... pattern

More blueprint plot project proposal scheme

Word family

Forms designeddesigningdesignsundesigning

Derived forms antidesignbiodesigncodesigndesignabilitydesignabledesignathondesigneddesignedly designerdesignfuldesignlessdesignment

Related forms diagram

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Proverbs (1)

See all

Luck is the residue of design

Simplified etymology

Design, recorded from the late 16th century, comes ultimately from Latin signum “a sign.” It therefore shares its distant origin with sign, signal, designate, ensign, and insignia.

Etymology

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.

designen Middle English designer Old French designō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Art & Music Architecture & Buildings

External links

# design

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈzaɪn/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪˈzaɪn/
**Frequency rank:** 2549

## Meanings
1. A plan or drawing showing how something will be made or how it will work.
2. To plan and make drawings for something before it is built or made.
3. A pattern of lines, shapes or colours used to decorate something.
4. To make or intend something for a particular purpose.

## Examples
- The design for the new bridge took two years to complete.
- She designs furniture for a living.
- The plates had a delicate flower design around the edge.
- This room was designed for meetings, not for work.

## Synonyms
- blueprint
- plan
- plot
- project
- proposal
- scheme

## Derived Forms
- antidesign
- biodesign
- codesign
- designability
- designable
- designathon
- designed
- designedly
- designer
- designful
- designless
- designment

## Related Forms
- diagram

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: designen
- Root: designer
- Root: designō

## Etymology
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.

## AI Etymology
design comes 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. The historical chain includes Middle English designen, Old French designer, Latin designō. Current senses include A plan or drawing showing how something will be made or how it will work and to plan and make drawings for something before it is built or made. English relatives and later formations include antidesign, biodesign, codesign, diagram.

## Topics
- Art & Music
- Architecture & Buildings

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