I. de ‧ sign 1 S2 W1 AC /dɪˈzaɪn/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ design , ↑ designer ; verb : ↑ design ]
1 . PROCESS OF PLANNING [uncountable] the art or process of making a drawing of something to show how you will make it or what it will look like:
The new plane is in its final design stage.
the design process
the design team
a course in graphic design
computer-aided design
2 . ARRANGEMENT OF PARTS [uncountable and countable] the way that something has been planned and made, including its appearance, how it works etc:
The car’s design has been greatly improved.
design of
the design of the new building
Some changes have been made to the computer’s basic design.
a design fault
The electric windows are an important design feature of this model.
3 . PATTERN [countable] a pattern for decorating something:
a floral design
Vinyl flooring is available in a wide range of designs.
4 . DRAWING [countable] a drawing that shows how something will be made or what it will look like
design for
the design for the new sports centre
5 . INTENTION [uncountable and countable] a plan that someone has in their mind
by design (=intentionally)
We shall never know whether this happened by accident or by design.
He has some grand designs for the company.
6 . have designs on something to want something for yourself, especially because it will bring you money:
Several developers have designs on the property.
7 . have designs on somebody formal to want a sexual relationship with someone:
He had designs on her.
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ adjectives
▪ good
Good design is very important in a house.
▪ simple
The latest model of the car has a much simpler design.
▪ modern
Many people were against such a modern design in the old city centre.
▪ traditional
Our new range of furniture has a traditional design.
▪ classical (=relating to the style of Ancient Greece or Rome)
a large building of classical design
▪ the basic design (=not including all the small details)
The basic design of the two churches is very similar.
■ verbs
▪ create/produce a design
Use your imagination to create an interesting design in the garden.
▪ come up with a design (=think of or suggest one)
We asked the architect to come up with another design.
■ design + NOUN
▪ a design feature (=something interesting or attractive that is part of the design)
The aircraft has some novel design features.
▪ a design fault/flaw (=a part of something that does not work well or look good)
If a washing-machine makes too much noise, it’s a design fault.
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THESAURUS
▪ pattern a regularly repeated arrangement of shapes, colours, or lines on a surface:
Some of his pictures use patterns of dots.
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The lines formed a regular pattern.
▪ design a pattern used for decorating something, especially cloth or paper:
curtains with a floral design (=based on flowers)
▪ markings the coloured patterns and shapes on an animal’s fur, feathers, or skin:
the tiger’s black and orange markings
▪ motif formal a single shape that is regularly repeated to form a pattern which decorates something:
A triangle within a square is a very common motif in Muslim art.
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The shield motif in the frescoes at Knossos is a religious, not a military, symbol.
II. design 2 S3 W1 AC BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ design , ↑ designer ; verb : ↑ design ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: French désigner , from Latin designare , from signare 'to mark' ]
1 . to make a drawing or plan of something that will be made or built:
The tower was designed by Gilbert Scott.
design something for something
She designed a new logo for the company.
well/badly etc designed
a badly designed office
specially designed software
2 . [usually passive] to plan or develop something for a specific purpose
design something to do something
These exercises are designed to strengthen muscles.
be designed for somebody/something
The course is designed for beginners.
be designed as something
The book is designed as a reference manual.