assign
verb OPAL W
/əˈsaɪn/
/əˈsaɪn/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they assign | /əˈsaɪn/ /əˈsaɪn/ |
| he / she / it assigns | /əˈsaɪnz/ /əˈsaɪnz/ |
| past simple assigned | /əˈsaɪnd/ /əˈsaɪnd/ |
| past participle assigned | /əˈsaɪnd/ /əˈsaɪnd/ |
| -ing form assigning | /əˈsaɪnɪŋ/ /əˈsaɪnɪŋ/ |
- to give somebody something that they can use, or some work or responsibility
- assign something (to somebody) The teacher assigned a different task to each of the children.
- The two large classrooms have been assigned to us.
- assign somebody something We have been assigned the two large classrooms.
- The teacher assigned each of the children a different task.
- to provide a person for a particular task or position
- assign somebody (to something/as something) They've assigned their best man to the job.
- Two senior officers have been assigned to the case.
- assign somebody to do something British forces have been assigned to help with peacekeeping.
- [usually passive] to send a person to work under the authority of somebody or in a particular group
- be assigned to somebody/something I was assigned to B platoon.
- He was assigned to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1975.
- to say that something has a particular value or function, or happens at a particular time or place
- assign something to something Assign a different colour to each different type of information.
- assign something sth The painting cannot be assigned an exact date.
- assign something to somebody (law) to say that your property or rights now belong to somebody else
- The agreement assigns copyright to the publisher.
- She has assigned the lease to her daughter.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French asigner, assiner, from Latin assignare, from ad- ‘to’ + signare ‘to sign’.