/ə'saɪn; ə`saɪn/
v
1 [Dn.n, Dn.pr] ~ sth to sb give sth to sb as a share of work to be done or of things to be used 分配给某人一部分工作去做或一份东西去使用
*The teacher has assigned each of us a holiday task. 教师给我们每个人都分配了假日的工作.
* The two large classrooms have been assigned to us. 这两间大教室已经分配给我们了.
2 [Tn.pr, Tnt] ~ sb to sth name sb for a task or position; appoint sb 指定某人做一工作或任一职务; 委派, 选派某人
*They've assigned their best man to the job. 他们选派了最合适的人做那项工作.
* One of the members was assigned to take the minutes. 其 中的一个成员被指定作记录.
3 [Tn.pr, Cn.n/a] name or fix (a time, place, reason, etc for sth) 指定（时间, 地点）; 确定（原因）
*Shall we assign Thursdays for our weekly meetings? 我们把每周例会定在星期四好吗?
* It is impossible to assign an exact date to this building. 确定这座建筑物的确切年代是不可能的.
* Can we assign jealousy as the motive for the crime? 我们能否确定这一犯罪动机是出于嫉妒?
4 [Tn.pr] ~ sth to sb (law 律) transfer (property, rights, etc) to sb 将（财产, 权利等）转让予某人; 过户予某人.

v [T]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French;Origin: assigner, from Latin assignare, from ad- 'to' + signare 'to mark']
to give someone a particular job or make them responsible for a particular person or thing
assign sb a task/role
　I've been assigned the task of looking after the new students.
assign sb to sth
　Jan's been assigned to the Asian Affairs Bureau.
assign sb to do sth
　Madison was assigned to investigate a balloon accident.
assign sb sth
　Assign each student a partner.
to give a particular time, value, place etc to something
　How much time have you assigned for the meeting?
assign sth to sth
　A code was assigned to each batch of work.
to give money, equipment etc to someone to use
assign sth to sb
　A personal bodyguard had been assigned to her.
assign sb sth
　They assigned me a small room.