From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdesignatedes‧ig‧nate1 /ˈdezɪɡneɪt/ ●○○ verb [transitive] 1 CHOOSEto choose someone or something for a particular job or purposebe designated something The lake was recently designated a conservation area.be designated as/for something Funds were designated for projects in low-income areas.be designated to do something She has been designated to take over the position of treasurer.2 SIGN/SYMBOLto represent or refer to something using a particular sign, name etc Buildings are designated by red squares on the map.Grammar Designate is usually passive.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
designate• Designate a driver who won't be drinking before going to a party or club.• Mattos Elementary has been designated as this area's "home" school.• The compound cell is then designated by a combination of the abbreviations applied to the original separate cells.• One of the queues was designated for people with an EC passport.• Fidel has designated his brother Raul, now head of the armed forces, as his successor.• In this chapter we examine how the female nude became a crucial element in the formation of art designated modern.• Why was it designated romantic folly?• Nothing can prepare the initiate for this first breathtaking vision of the planet for which he has been designated steward.• $6 million has been designated to make road safety improvements on Pacheco Pass.• Three of the children are designated to you as special students.be designated as/for something• Funds were designated for projects in low-income areas.designatedes‧ig‧nate2 /ˈdezɪɡnət, -neɪt/ adjective [only after noun] BOCHOOSE formal used after the name of an official job to show that someone has been chosen for that job but has not yet officially started work the director designateExamples from the Corpus
designate• the ambassador designateFrom Longman Business Dictionarydesignatedes‧ig‧nate1 /ˈdezɪgneɪt/ verb [transitive]JOB to choose someone or something for a particular job or purposeMr Timmer has been designated to succeed Mr van der Klugt.The government designated the aircraft industry as a strategic sector.→ See Verb tabledesignatedes‧ig‧nate2 /ˈdezɪgnət, -neɪt/ adjective [not before a noun]JOB a word used after the name of an official job showing that someone has been chosen for that job but has not yet officially started workMr Warren is currently group finance director designate.Origin designate2 (1700-1800) Latin designatus, past participle of designare; → DESIGN2 