Standard Lemma guide

design

noun · verb · 26 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /dɪˈzaɪn/
  • California: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian: /dɪˈzɑen/
  • New-Zealand: /dəˈzɑe̯n/
  • rhymes with -aɪn
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 Z AY1 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A specification of an object or process, referring to requirements to be satisfied and thus conditions to be met for them to solve a problem.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A plan (with more or less detail) for the structure and functions of an artifact, building or system.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • The initial design of the park was rejected for being too expensive.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A pattern, as an element of a work of art or architecture.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • We're working on some new designs for our range of summer shirts

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The composition of a work of art.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

Intention or plot.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • We have designs on winning the league next season.
  • To be hateful of the truth by design.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

The shape or appearance given to an object, especially one that is intended to make it more attractive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

The art of designing

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • Danish furniture design is world-famous.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To plan and carry out (a picture, work of art, construction etc.).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • comments designed to chip away at my self-esteem
  • He always designs gaming laptops from 4:00 pm to 1:00 am.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To plan (to do something).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, obsolete

Examples

  • The king designed to mount an expedition to the New World.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To assign, appoint (something to someone); to designate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To mark out and exhibit; to designate; to indicate; to show; to point out; to appoint.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

To manifest requirements to be satisfied by an object or process for them to solve a problem.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

noun

Meaning 13

the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he contributed to the design of a new instrument

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: designing

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: creating by mental acts

Narrower terms: planning

14

noun

Meaning 14

a decorative or artistic work

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the coach had a design on the doors

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pattern, figure

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: decoration, ornament, ornamentation

Narrower terms: argyle, argyll, bear claw, damascene, decal, decalcomania, device, emblem, herringbone, herringbone pattern, linocut, mandala, mihrab, motif, motive, polka dot, pyrograph, screen saver, sunburst, tattoo, tetraskelion, tetraskele, triskelion, triskele, weave, marking

15

noun

Meaning 15

a preliminary sketch indicating the plan for something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the design of a building

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sketch, study

16

noun

Meaning 16

the creation of something in the mind

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: invention, innovation, excogitation, conception

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: creativity, creativeness, creative thinking

Narrower terms: concoction, contrivance

17

noun

Meaning 17

an arrangement scheme

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the awkward design of the keyboard made operation difficult
  • it was an excellent design for living
  • a plan for seating guests

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: plan

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: arrangement, organization, organisation, system

Narrower terms: configuration, constellation, layout, trap, snare, hotel plan, meal plan

18

noun

Meaning 18

something intended as a guide for making something else

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a blueprint for a house
  • a pattern for a skirt

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: blueprint, pattern

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: plan, program, programme

19

noun

Meaning 19

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • his intent was to provide a new translation
  • good intentions are not enough
  • it was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs
  • he made no secret of his designs

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: purpose, intent, intention, aim

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: goal, end

Narrower terms: mind, idea, cross-purpose, final cause, sake, view, will

20

verb

Meaning 20

intend or have as a purpose

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She designed to go far in the world of business

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: intend, mean, think

21

verb

Meaning 21

plan something for a specific role or purpose or effect

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This room is not designed for work

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: intend, destine, designate, specify

22

verb

Meaning 22

conceive or fashion in the mind; invent

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She designed a good excuse for not attending classes that day

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: gestate, conceive, conceptualize, conceptualise

23

verb

Meaning 23

make or work out a plan for; devise

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • They contrived to murder their boss
  • design a new sales strategy
  • plan an attack

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: plan, project, contrive

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: create by mental act, create mentally

Narrower terms: plot, concert, map, map out

24

verb

Meaning 24

make a design of; plan out in systematic, often graphic form

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • design a better mousetrap
  • plan the new wing of the museum

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: plan

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: create by mental act, create mentally

Narrower terms: engineer, redesign, blueprint, draft, draught

25

verb

Meaning 25

create the design for; create or execute in an artistic or highly skilled manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Chanel designed the famous suit

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: create, make

Narrower terms: cut, tailor, make up

26

verb

Meaning 26

create designs

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Dupont designs for the house of Chanel

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: create, make

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h1 Proto-Indo-European *déh1 Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē- Proto-Indo-European *sek- Proto-Indo-European *-nóm Proto-Italic *seknom Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Proto-Italic *seknāō Latin signō Latin designōder. Old French designerder. Middle English designen English design 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.

Across languages

Translations

304 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: ontwerp — plan
  • Arabic: تَخْطِيط (taḵṭīṭ) — plan
  • Arabic: تصميم (taṣmīm) — plan
  • Armenian: նախագիծ (naxagic) — plan
  • Bulgarian: план (plan) — plan
  • Bulgarian: констру́кция (konstrúkcija) — plan
  • Bulgarian: диза́йн (dizájn) — plan
  • Catalan: disseny — plan
  • Chinese Mandarin: 設計 /设计 (shèjì) — plan
  • Czech: návrh — plan
  • Dutch: ontwerp — plan
  • Esperanto: plano — plan
  • Estonian: kavand — plan
  • Finnish: suunnitelma — plan
  • Finnish: malli — plan
  • Finnish: kaavio — plan
  • Finnish: rakennekaavio — plan
  • French: conception — plan
  • French: plan — plan
  • Galician: deseño — plan
  • Georgian: გეგმა (gegma) — plan
  • German: Design — plan
  • German: Entwurf — plan
  • Greek: σχέδιο (schédio) — plan
  • Hindi: डिज़ाइन (ḍizāin) — plan
  • Hindi: अभिकल्प (abhikalp) — plan
  • Hungarian: terv — plan
  • Hungarian: tervezet — plan
  • Hungarian: vázlat — plan
  • Icelandic: hönnun — plan
  • Indonesian: desain — plan
  • Indonesian: rancangan — plan
  • Irish: dearadh — plan
  • Italian: disegno — plan
  • Italian: design — plan
  • Italian: progetto — plan
  • Italian: pianta — plan
  • Japanese: 設計 (sekkei) — plan
  • Japanese: デザイン (dezain) — plan
  • Korean: 설계 (seolgye) — plan
  • Korean: 계획 (gyehoek) — plan
  • Korean: 디자인 (dijain) — plan
  • Kyrgyz: шөкөт (şököt) — plan
  • Ladino: desen — plan
  • Macedonian: нацрт (nacrt) — plan
  • Macedonian: план (plan) — plan
  • Malay: reka bentuk — plan
  • Maltese: disinn — plan
  • Iranian Persian: طَراحی (tarâhi) — plan
  • Iranian Persian: دیزایْن (dizâyn) — plan
  • Iranian Persian: طَرْح (tarh) — plan
  • Plautdietsch: Plon — plan
  • Polish: projekt — plan
  • Polish: plan — plan
  • Polish: abrys — plan
  • Portuguese: projeto — plan
  • Portuguese: design — plan
  • Russian: план (plan) — plan
  • Russian: констру́кция (konstrúkcija) — plan
  • Russian: диза́йн (dizájn) — plan
  • Russian: прое́кт (proékt) — plan
  • Serbo-Croatian: нацрт — plan
  • Serbo-Croatian: план — plan
  • Serbo-Croatian: nacrt — plan
  • Serbo-Croatian: plan — plan
  • Spanish: diseño — plan
  • Swedish: utkast — plan
  • Swedish: design — plan
  • Tagalog: antangan — plan
  • Turkish: dizayn — plan
  • Turkish: tasarım — plan
  • Urdu: تَرْتِیب (tartīb) — plan
  • Urdu: ڈِیزائِن (ḍīzāin) — plan
  • Afrikaans: ontwerp — pattern
  • Bulgarian: шарка (šarka) — pattern
  • Bulgarian: десе́н (desén) — pattern
  • Chinese Mandarin: 圖案 /图案 (tú'àn) — pattern
  • Chinese Mandarin: 圖樣 /图样 (túyàng) — pattern
  • Chinese Mandarin: 模式 (móshì) — pattern
  • Dutch: dessin — pattern
  • Finnish: kuvio — pattern
  • Finnish: design — pattern
  • Finnish: kuviointi — pattern
  • Finnish: kuosi — pattern
  • French: modèle — pattern
  • Georgian: დიზაინი (dizaini) — pattern
  • Georgian: მოდელი (modeli) — pattern
  • German: Muster — pattern
  • Greek: σχέδιο (schédio) — pattern
  • Hungarian: minta — pattern
  • Ingrian: koosi — pattern
  • Italian: design — pattern
  • Japanese: 模様 (moyō) — pattern
  • Japanese: デザイン (dezain) — pattern
  • Korean: 무늬 (munui) — pattern
  • Kyrgyz: шөкөт (şököt) — pattern
  • Lao: ລິງລາຽ (ling lāi) — pattern
  • Navajo: naʼashchʼąąʼ — pattern
  • Plautdietsch: Plon — pattern
  • Polish: wzór — pattern
  • Polish: motyw — pattern
  • Portuguese: projeto — pattern
  • Russian: узо́р (uzór) — pattern
  • Russian: образе́ц (obrazéc) — pattern
  • Russian: моде́ль (modɛ́lʹ) — pattern
  • Russian: диза́йн (dizájn) — pattern
  • Serbo-Croatian: узорак — pattern
  • Serbo-Croatian: дизајн — pattern
  • Serbo-Croatian: мустра — pattern
  • Serbo-Croatian: uzorak — pattern
  • Serbo-Croatian: dizajn — pattern
  • Serbo-Croatian: mustra — pattern
  • Tagalog: antangan — pattern
  • Thai: แบบ (bɛ̀ɛp) — pattern
  • Turkish: desen — pattern
  • Afrikaans: versameling — composition
  • Bulgarian: компози́ция (kompozícija) — composition
  • Bulgarian: констру́кция (konstrúkcija) — composition
  • Chinese Mandarin: 設計 /设计 (shèjì) — composition
  • Finnish: sommittelu — composition
  • Finnish: sommitelma — composition
  • Finnish: asetelma — composition
  • Georgian: კომპოზიცია (ḳomṗozicia) — composition
  • Hungarian: kialakítás — composition
  • Hungarian: kivitelezés — composition
  • Hungarian: kivitel — composition
  • Hungarian: kompozíció — composition
  • Hungarian: konstrukció — composition
  • Hungarian: formatervezés — composition
  • Korean: 설계 (seolgye) — composition
  • Polish: kompozycja — composition
  • Russian: компози́ция (kompozícija) — composition
  • Russian: констру́кция (konstrúkcija) — composition
  • Turkish: bileşim — composition
  • Turkish: kompozisyon — composition
  • Afrikaans: bedoeling — intention
  • Bashkir: ниәт (niət) — intention
  • Bulgarian: наме́рение (namérenie) — intention
  • Chinese Mandarin: 打算 (dǎsuàn, dǎsuan) — intention
  • Chinese Mandarin: 意圖 /意图 (yìtú) — intention
  • Esperanto: projekto — intention
  • Finnish: suunnitelma — intention
  • Finnish: juoni — intention
  • Finnish: aie — intention
  • Finnish: aikomus — intention
  • French: dessein — intention
  • French: intention — intention
  • Georgian: ჩანაფიქრი (čanapikri) — intention
  • German: Absicht — intention
  • Hungarian: szándék — intention
  • Hungarian: terv — intention
  • Hungarian: elgondolás — intention
  • Italian: intenzione — intention
  • Italian: piano — intention
  • Italian: progettazione — intention
  • Japanese: 意図 (ito) — intention
  • Korean: 의도 (uido) — intention
  • Occitan: dessenh — intention
  • Occitan: intencion — intention
  • Polish: zamysł — intention
  • Polish: zamiar — intention
  • Portuguese: intenção — intention
  • Russian: план (plan) — intention
  • Russian: наме́рение (namérenije) — intention
  • Russian: за́мысел (zámysel) — intention
  • Russian: у́мысел (úmysel) — intention
  • Scottish Gaelic: rùn — intention
  • Serbo-Croatian: интенција — intention
  • Serbo-Croatian: накана — intention
  • Serbo-Croatian: intencija — intention
  • Serbo-Croatian: nakana — intention
  • Spanish: designio — intention
  • Spanish: deseño — intention
  • Turkish: niyet — intention
  • Ukrainian: за́дум (zádum) — intention
  • Ukrainian: за́мисел (zámysel) — intention
  • Ukrainian: за́мір (zámir) — intention
  • Ukrainian: на́мір (námir) — intention
  • Ukrainian: план (plan) — intention
  • Afrikaans: ontwerp — appearance
  • Bulgarian: диза́йн (dizájn) — appearance
  • Finnish: muotoilu — appearance
  • Finnish: design — appearance
  • Finnish: kuosi — appearance
  • German: Entwurf — appearance
  • Hungarian: kinézet — appearance
  • Hungarian: kialakítás — appearance
  • Hungarian: arculat — appearance
  • Hungarian: formaterv — appearance
  • Hungarian: stílus — appearance
  • Hungarian: dizájn — appearance
  • Italian: design — appearance
  • Korean: 모습 (moseup) — appearance
  • Polish: wzór — appearance
  • Polish: krój (of a typeface) — appearance
  • Polish: design — appearance
  • Polish: dizajn — appearance
  • Russian: диза́йн (dizájn) — appearance
  • Russian: вне́шний вид (vnéšnij vid) — appearance
  • Russian: экстерье́р (ekstɛrʹjér) — appearance
  • Turkish: tasarım — appearance
  • Afrikaans: ontwerp — art of designing
  • Albanian: dizajn — art of designing
  • Arabic: تَصْمِيم (taṣmīm) — art of designing
  • Arabic: ديزاين (dīzāyn) — art of designing
  • Armenian: դիզայն (dizayn) — art of designing
  • Azerbaijani: dizayn — art of designing
  • Belarusian: дыза́йн (dyzájn) — art of designing
  • Bulgarian: диза́йн (dizájn) — art of designing
  • Burmese: ဒီဇိုင်း (dijuing:) — art of designing
  • Chinese Mandarin: 設計 /设计 (shèjì) — art of designing
  • Czech: design — art of designing
  • Danish: design — art of designing
  • Dutch: vormgeving — art of designing
  • Dutch: ontwerp — art of designing
  • Dutch: design — art of designing
  • Estonian: disain — art of designing
  • Finnish: muotoilu — art of designing
  • Finnish: design — art of designing
  • Finnish: suunnittelu — art of designing
  • Finnish: sommittelu — art of designing
  • French: design — art of designing
  • Georgian: დიზაინი (dizaini) — art of designing
  • German: Design — art of designing
  • German: Entwurf — art of designing
  • Greek: σχέδιο (schédio) — art of designing
  • Hebrew: עיצוב ('ytzuv) — art of designing
  • Hindi: डिज़ाइन (ḍizāin) — art of designing
  • Hungarian: formatervezés — art of designing
  • Hungarian: tervezőművészet — art of designing
  • Hungarian: dizájn — art of designing
  • Italian: design — art of designing
  • Japanese: デザイン (dezain) — art of designing
  • Kazakh: дизайн (dizain) — art of designing
  • Korean: 디자인 (dijain) — art of designing
  • Kyrgyz: дизайн (dizayn) — art of designing
  • Latvian: dizains — art of designing
  • Lithuanian: dizainas — art of designing
  • Macedonian: дизајн (dizajn) — art of designing
  • Mongolian: дизайн (dizajn) — art of designing
  • Iranian Persian: طَراحی (tarâhi) — art of designing
  • Iranian Persian: دیزایْن (dizâyn) — art of designing
  • Polish: wzornictwo — art of designing
  • Polish: design — art of designing
  • Portuguese: desenho — art of designing
  • Romanian: design — art of designing
  • Russian: диза́йн (dizájn) — art of designing
  • Serbo-Croatian: дизајн — art of designing
  • Serbo-Croatian: dizajn — art of designing
  • Slovak: dizajn — art of designing
  • Slovene: dizajn — art of designing
  • Slovene: oblikovanje — art of designing
  • Spanish: diseño — art of designing
  • Swedish: design — art of designing
  • Swedish: formgivning — art of designing
  • Tajik: дизайн (dizayn) — art of designing
  • Thai: การออกแบบ (gaan-ɔ̀ɔk-bɛ̀ɛp) — art of designing
  • Turkish: dizayn — art of designing
  • Turkish: tasarım — art of designing
  • Turkmen: dizaýn — art of designing
  • Ukrainian: диза́йн (dyzájn) — art of designing
  • Uzbek: dizayn — art of designing
  • Vietnamese: thiết kế — art of designing
  • Armenian: նախագծել (naxagcel) — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Bulgarian: замислям (zamisljam) — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Bulgarian: проектирам (proektiram) — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Catalan: dissenyar — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Chinese Mandarin: 設計 /设计 (shèjì) — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Cornish: desinya — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Dutch: ontwerpen — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Estonian: kavandama — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Finnish: suunnitella — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Finnish: muotoilla — to plan an artwork etc.
  • French: concevoir — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Galician: deseñar — to plan an artwork etc.
  • German: entwerfen — to plan an artwork etc.
  • German: designen — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Greek: σχεδιάζω (schediázo) — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Hungarian: tervez — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Hungarian: megtervez — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Hungarian: kialakít — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Icelandic: hanna — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Interlingua: designar — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Irish: dear — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Italian: progettare — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Lao: ອອກແບບ (ʼǭk bǣp) — to plan an artwork etc.
  • : ᦶᦑᧅᦖᦻ (taekṁaay) — to plan an artwork etc.
  • : ᦎᧂᧉᦞᦱᧆ (ṫang2vaad) — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Maltese: iddisinnja — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Māori: hoahoa — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Persian: طراحی کردن (tarrâhi kardan) — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Persian: طرازیدن (tarâzidan) — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Polish: projektować — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Portuguese: projetar — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Quechua: chantay — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Shan: ၸၼ်ႁၢင်ႈ (tsǎn hāang) — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Sindhi: جنسارڻ (Jinsaaran) — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Slovak: nadizajnovať — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Spanish: diseñar — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Swedish: designa — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Swedish: utforma — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Thai: ออกแบบ (ɔ̀ɔk-bɛ̀ɛp) — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Turkish: tasarlamak — to plan an artwork etc.
  • Ukrainian: проєктува́ти (projektuváty) — to plan an artwork etc.
Real reading context

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