design > define

noun

• The act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan. )
  • usage: "he contributed to the design of a new instrument"
  • synonyms: designing
• An arrangement scheme.
  • usage: "the awkward design of the keyboard made operation difficult"; "it was an excellent design for living"; "a plan for seating guests"
  • synonyms: plan
• Something intended as a guide for making something else.
  • usage: "a blueprint for a house"; "a pattern for a skirt"
  • synonyms: blueprint, pattern
• A decorative or artistic work.
  • usage: "the coach had a design on the doors"
  • synonyms: pattern, figure
• An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions.
  • usage: "his intent was to provide a new translation"; "good intentions are not enough"; "it was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs"; "he made no secret of his designs"
  • synonyms: purpose, intent, intention, aim
• A preliminary sketch indicating the plan for something.
  • usage: "the design of a building"
• The creation of something in the mind.
  • synonyms: invention, innovation, excogitation, conception

verb

• Make or work out a plan for; devise.
  • usage: "They contrived to murder their boss"; "design a new sales strategy"; "plan an attack"
  • synonyms: plan, project, contrive
• Plan something for a specific role or purpose or effect.
  • usage: "This room is not designed for work"
• Create the design for; create or execute in an artistic or highly skilled manner.
  • usage: "Chanel designed the famous suit"
• Make a design of; plan out in systematic, often graphic form.
  • usage: "design a better mousetrap"; "plan the new wing of the museum"
  • synonyms: plan
• Create designs.
  • usage: "Dupont designs for the house of Chanel"
• Conceive or fashion in the mind; invent.
  • usage: "She designed a good excuse for not attending classes that day"
• Intend or have as a purpose.
  • usage: "She designed to go far in the world of business"

• (v.i.) To form a design or designs; to plan.
• (n.) A preliminary sketch; an outline or pattern of the main features of something to be executed, as of a picture, a building or a decoration; a delineation; a plan.
• (n.) Specifically, intention or purpose as revealed or inferred from the adaptation of means to an end; as, the argument from design.
• (n.) To create or produce, as a work of art; to form a plan or scheme of; to form in idea; to invent; to project; to lay out in the mind; as, a man designs an essay, a poem, a statue or a cathedral.
• (n.) A plan or scheme formed in the mind of something to be done; preliminary conception; idea intended to be expressed in a visible form or carried into action; intention; purpose; -- often used in a bad sense for evil intention or purpose; scheme; plot.
• (n.) To draw preliminary outline or main features of; to sketch for a pattern or model; to delineate; to trace out; to draw.
• (n.) To intend or purpose; -- usually with for before the remote object, but sometimes with to.
• (n.) The invention and conduct of the subject; the disposition of every part, and the general order of the whole.
• (n.) To mark out and exhibit; to designate; to indicate; to show; to point out; to appoint.
• (n.) The realization of an inventive or decorative plan; especially, a work of decorative art considered as a new creation; conception or plan shown in completed work; as, this carved panel is a fine design or of a fine design.