designate
verb [ T ]
uk/ˈdezɪɡneɪt/ usto choose someone officially to do a particular job:
Traditionally, the director designates his or her successor.
designate sb (as) sth/to be sth Thompson has been designated as new department head.
designate sb to do sth She has been designated to organize the meeting.
to state officially that a place or thing has a particular character or purpose:
designate sth for sth This area of the plant has been specially designated for research and development.
designate sth (as) sth They officially designated the building as unsuitable for human habitation.
designate
adjective [ after noun ]
uk/ˈdezɪɡneɪt/ us/ˈdezɪɡnɪt/used after the title of a particular official job to refer to someone who has been chosen to do that job, but who has not yet started doing it:
the Managing Director designate
Compare
-elect