1. Give a name or title to
   "The new research centre was designated the Wilson Institute";
   - denominate
    
2. Decree or designate beforehand
   "She was designated to become a great pianist";
   - destine, fate, doom
    
3. Design or destine
   "The funds were designated for research";
   - intend, destine, specify
    
4. Allocate a task to a person
   "The teacher designated a student to lead the class discussion";
   - delegate, depute, assign
    
5. Identify or make clear which place, direction, person, or thing is meant
   "The sign designates the meeting place";
   - indicate, point, show

1. Appointed but not yet installed in office
   "The designate CEO was preparing to take over the company"

Derived forms: designates, designated, designating

See also: incoming

Type of: appoint, assign, attribute, charge, inform, ordain, plan

Encyclopedia: Designate