/ əˈsaɪnmənt; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C , U ] a task or piece of work that sb is given to do, usually as part of their job or studies :
You will need to complete three written assignments per semester.
She is in Greece on an assignment for one of the Sunday newspapers.
one of our reporters on assignment in China
I had set myself a tough assignment.
➡ note at task
2.
[ U ] the act of giving sth to sb; the act of giving sb a particular task :
his assignment to other duties in the same company
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French assignement , from medieval Latin assignamentum , from Latin assignare allot, from ad- to + signare to sign.