I. ˈde-zig-ˌnāt, -nət adjective
Etymology: Latin designatus, past participle of designare
Date: 1629
: chosen but not yet installed
ambassador designate
II. -ˌnāt transitive verb
( -nat·ed ; -nat·ing )
Date: 1639
1. : to indicate and set apart for a specific purpose, office, or duty
designate a group to prepare a plan
2.
a. : to point out the location of
a marker designating the battle
b. : to distinguish as to class
the area we designate as that of spiritual values — J. B. Conant
c. : specify , stipulate
to be sent by a designated shipper
3. : denote
associate names with the people they designate
4. : to call by a distinctive title, term, or expression
a particle designated the neutron
• des·ig·na·tive -ˌnā-tiv adjective
• des·ig·na·tor -ˌnā-tər noun
• des·ig·na·to·ry -nə-ˌtȯr-ē adjective