design
/dɪˈzaɪn/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To plan and make a drawing, model, or plan for something before it is built or made. It often means thinking carefully about how it should look or work.
- She designed a new logo for the company.
- They designed the app for busy students.
- The course is designed to improve writing skills.
noun
A plan, drawing, or style for something. It can also mean the way something is made to look or work.
- The chair has a simple design.
- I like the design of this website.
- The building's design saves energy.
Adinary Nuance
Design is broader than draw or make. Use design when the main idea is planning how something should look, work, or be built. It is also more formal than plan in many school, business, and technical contexts.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thiết kế
- Spanish
- diseño
- Chinese
- 设计
- Japanese
- デザイン
- Korean
- 디자인
Etymology
Design came into English in the 16th century from French designer, from Latin designare, meaning 'mark out' or 'plan'. This is why it still means both planning and visual style.
Common phrases
design processdesign a websiteindustrial designby design
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is design more formal than make or create?
- Yes. **Design** is often more formal and focused on planning before making.
- What is the difference between design and draw?
- **Draw** means to make a picture. **Design** means to plan how something will look or work.
- Can design be a noun and a verb?
- Yes. It is common as both a noun and a verb.
- Is design used in academic writing?
- Yes. It is very common in academic, technical, and business writing.