designate designate /ˈdɛzɪgˌneɪt/

adjective

1. Appointed but not yet installed in office  ( designate )
   appointed but not yet installed in office
   

verb

1. () Assign a name or title to  ( denominate , designate )
   assign a name or title to
     They will designate a new leader for the project.
   They will designate a new leader for the project.
   
2. () Give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person)  ( depute , delegate , designate , assign )
   give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person)
     The teacher asked the students to work in pairs and assign specific roles for their science project.
   The teacher asked the students to work in pairs and assign specific roles for their science project.
   
3. Design or destine  ( designate , specify , destine , intend )
   design or destine
    She was intended to become the director
   She was intended to become the director
   
4. Decree or designate beforehand  ( designate , fate , destine , doom )
   decree or designate beforehand
    She was destined to become a great pianist
   She was destined to become a great pianist
   
5. Indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively  ( designate , show , point , indicate )
   indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
    I showed the customer the glove section
   I showed the customer the glove section
    He pointed to the empty parking space
   He pointed to the empty parking space
    He indicated his opponents
   he indicated his opponents