verb (used with object)
- to give or allocate; allot: to assign rooms at a hotel.
- to give out or announce as a task: to assign homework.
- to appoint, as to a post or duty: to assign one to guard duty.
- to designate; name; specify: to assign a day for a meeting.
- to ascribe; attribute; bring forward: to assign a cause.
- Law. to transfer: to assign a contract.
- Military. to place permanently on duty with a unit or under a commander.
verb (used without object)
- Law. to transfer property, especially in trust or for the benefit of creditors.
noun
- Usually assigns. Law. a person to whom the property or interest of another is or may be transferred; assignee: my heirs and assigns.
verb (tr)
- to move (personnel, resources, etc) to a new post, department, location, etc
verb (mainly tr)
- to select for and appoint to a post, etcto assign an expert to the job
- to give out or allot (a task, problem, etc)to assign advertising to an expert
- to set apart (a place, person, time, etc) for a particular function or eventto assign a day for the meeting
- to attribute to a specified cause, origin, or source; ascribeto assign a stone cross to the Vikings
- to transfer (one’s right, interest, or title to property) to someone else
- (also intr) law (formerly) to transfer (property) to trustees so that it may be used for the benefit of creditors
- military to allocate (men or materials) on a permanent basisCompare attach (def. 6)
- computing to place (a value corresponding to a variable) in a memory location
noun
- law a person to whom property is assigned; assignee
c.1300, from Old French assiginer (13c.) “assign, set (a date, etc.); appoint legally; allot,” from Latin assignare “to mark out, to allot by sign, assign, award,” from ad- “to” (see ad-) + signare “make a sign,” from signum “mark” (see sign). Main original use was in English law, in transferences of personal property. General meaning “to fix, settle, determine, appoint” is from c.1300. Related: Assigned; assigning.