designate /ˈdeziɡneit/ vt. 1.把…定名为，把…叫做：designate a man as… 指名某人为…；be designated by the name of 被…称为They designated the new shopping centre York Plaza.他们给这个新购物中心定名为约克购物中心。2.指派，选派：designate a person to do sth. 指派某人做某事；designate sb. to an office 任命某人任某职