- design
- [[t]dɪza͟ɪn[/t]]
♦designs, designing, designed1) VERB When someone designs a garment, building, machine, or other object, they plan it and make a detailed drawing of it from which it can be built or made.
[V n] They wanted to design a machine that was both attractive and practical.
[V-ed] ...men wearing specially designed boots.
2) VERB When someone designs a survey, policy, or system, they plan and prepare it, and decide on all the details of it.[V n] We may be able to design a course to suit your particular needs...
[V n] Computer security systems will be designed by independent technicians...
[V-ed] A number of very well designed studies have been undertaken.
3) N-UNCOUNT Design is the process and art of planning and making detailed drawings of something.He was a born mechanic with a flair for design...
Most mobile robots are still in the design stage...
She came to London in 1960 to study fashion design.
4) N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp The design of something is the way in which it has been planned and made.These machines are constantly updated by improving the design of the computers.
...a new design of clock...
The shoes were of good design and good quality...
BMW is recalling 8,000 cars because of a design fault.
5) N-COUNT A design is a drawing which someone produces to show how they would like something to be built or made.When Bernardello asked them to build him a home, they drew up the design in a week.
Syn:6) N-COUNT A design is a pattern of lines, flowers, or shapes which is used to decorate something.Their range of tableware is decorated with a blackberry design...
Many pictures have been based on simple geometric designs.
Syn:7) N-COUNT A design is a general plan or intention that someone has in their mind when they are doing something.Is there some design in having him in the middle?...
The intelligence service conceived a grand design to assassinate the War Minister.
8) V-PASSIVE If something is designed for a purpose, it is intended for that purpose.[be V-ed to-inf] This project is designed to help landless people...
[be V-ed for n] It's not designed for anyone under age eighteen.
Syn:9) PHRASE If something happens or is done by design, someone does it deliberately, rather than by accident.The pair met often - at first by chance but later by design.
Syn:on purpose10) PHRASE: V inflects If someone has designs on something, they want it and are planning to get it, often in a dishonest way.His colonel had designs on his wife...
Greece has always stressed that it had no designs on the territory.
English dictionary. 2008.
