The term 'CARD DESIGNATION' can be solved by the four-letter word 'SUIT'. This term is used in card games such as poker, bridge, and blackjack to refer to the four categories of cards: clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades. Each SUIT has a different symbol and color, and each card within the SUIT is ranked from highest to lowest. The card designation is used to determine which player has the highest ranking card in a given hand.