Design Meaning
/dɪˈzaɪn/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA specification of an object or process, referring to requirements to be satisfied and thus conditions to be met for them to solve a problem.
nounA plan (with more or less detail) for the structure and functions of an artifact, building or system.
Sentence Examples
It is true that he did it, whether by accident or by design.
I can't think about the design any more.
The basic design of the car is very similar to that of earlier models.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The architect will ____ a sustainable building with solar panels and green roofs.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is true that he did it, whether by accident or by ____.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English designen, from Old French designer, from Latin designō (“to mark out, point out, describe, design, contrive”), from de- (or dis-) + signō (“to mark”), from signum (“mark”). Doublet of designate.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The Wikilambda developers charmingly admit that they are not very experienced in language design."
— 2026, Michael Falk, “Wikilambda the ultimate: the Wikimedia foundation’s search for the perfect language”, in AI & Society: Knowledge, Culture and Communication, →DOI:
"Where it had been left hundreds of years ago, / Extract from the depth, is but a setting sun, / Paradise is scarce in this light that won’t shine, / What is our earthly task, but a worthy design?"
— 1999, Lætitia Sadier, “The Free Design”, in Tim Gane (music), Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Night, performed by Stereolab:
"At length, one night, when the company by ſome accident broke up much ſooner than ordinary, ſo that the candles were not half burnt out, ſhe was not able to reſiſt the temptation, but reſolved to have them ſome way or other. Accordingly, as ſoon as the hurry was over, and the ſervants, as ſhe thought, all gone to ſleep, ſhe ſtole out of her bed, and went down ſtairs, naked to her ſhift as ſhe was, with a deſign to ſteal them […]"
— 1762, Charles Johnstone, The Reverie; or, A Flight to the Paradise of Fools, volume 2, Dublin: Printed by Dillon Chamberlaine, →OCLC, page 202:
"I give it you without any other design than to shew you that I reckon nothing dear to me, when I want to do you a pleasure."
— 1763, Antoine-Simon Le Page du Pratz, History of Louisisana, PG, page 40:
""They say if anyone's best man more than ten times, he'll never be married. I wanted to be for the tenth time, but the post was taken," said Count Siniavin to the pretty Princess Tcharskaya, who had designs on him."
— 1901 [1878], chapter 5, in Constance Garnett, transl., Anna Karenina, translation of Анна Каренина (Anna Karenina) by Leo Tolstoy, part 5:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The architect will ____ a sustainable building with solar panels and green roofs.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is true that he did it, whether by accident or by ____.