Meaning

noun the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)

noun an arrangement scheme

noun something intended as a guide for making something else

originFrom Middle English designen, from Old French designer, from Latin designō (“to mark out, point out, describe, design, contrive”), from de- (or dis-) + signō (“to mark”), from signum (“mark”). Doublet of designate.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0