design

design

I

de‧sign¹ S2 W1 AC /dɪˈzaɪn/ noun1.  PROCESS OF PLANNING  [uncountable] the art or process of making a drawing of something to show how you will make it or what it will look like:
    The new plane is in its final design stage.
    the design process
    the design team
    a course in graphic design
    computer-aided design
2.  ARRANGEMENT OF PARTS  [uncountable and countable] the way that something has been planned and made, including its appearance, how it works etc:
    The car’s design has been greatly improved.
    design of
    the design of the new building
    Some changes have been made to the computer’s basic design.
    a design fault
    The electric windows are an important design feature of this model.
3.  PATTERN  [countable] a pattern for decorating something:
    a floral design
    Vinyl flooring is available in a wide range of designs.
4.  DRAWING  [countable] a drawing that shows how something will be made or what it will look like
    design for
    the design for the new sports centre
5.  INTENTION  [uncountable and countable] a plan that someone has in their mind
    by design (=intentionally)
    We shall never know whether this happened by accident or by design.
    He has some grand designs for the company.
6. have designs on something to want something for yourself, especially because it will bring you money:
    Several developers have designs on the property.
7. have designs on somebody formal to want a sexual relationship with someone:
    He had designs on her.
     

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meaning 2)

■ adjectives
   ▪ good Good design is very important in a house.
   ▪ simple The latest model of the car has a much simpler design.
   ▪ modern Many people were against such a modern design in the old city centre.
   ▪ traditional Our new range of furniture has a traditional design.
   ▪ classical (=relating to the style of Ancient Greece or Rome) a large building of classical design
   ▪ the basic design (=not including all the small details) The basic design of the two churches is very similar.
■ verbs
   ▪ create/produce a design Use your imagination to create an interesting design in the garden.
   ▪ come up with a design (=think of or suggest one) We asked the architect to come up with another design.
■ design + NOUN
   ▪ a design feature (=something interesting or attractive that is part of the design) The aircraft has some novel design features.
   ▪ a design fault/flaw (=a part of something that does not work well or look good) If a washing-machine makes too much noise, it’s a design fault.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ pattern a regularly repeated arrangement of shapes, colours, or lines on a surface: Some of his pictures use patterns of dots. | The lines formed a regular pattern.
   ▪ design a pattern used for decorating something, especially cloth or paper: curtains with a floral design (=based on flowers)
   ▪ markings the coloured patterns and shapes on an animal’s fur, feathers, or skin: the tiger’s black and orange markings
   ▪ motif formal a single shape that is regularly repeated to form a pattern which decorates something: A triangle within a square is a very common motif in Muslim art. | The shield motif in the frescoes at Knossos is a religious, not a military, symbol.

II

design² S3 W1 AC verb [transitive]1. to make a drawing or plan of something that will be made or built:
    The tower was designed by Gilbert Scott.
    design something for something
    She designed a new logo for the company.
    well/badly etc designed
    a badly designed office
    specially designed software
2. [usually passive] to plan or develop something for a specific purpose
    design something to do something
    These exercises are designed to strengthen muscles.
    be designed for somebody/something
    The course is designed for beginners.
    be designed as something
    The book is designed as a reference manual.