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- DictionaryDe·no·ta·tion/ˌdēnōˈtāSH(ə)n/
noun
- 1. the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests: "beyond their immediate denotation, the words have a connotative power"
1. : an act or process of denoting. 2. : meaning. especially : a direct specific meaning as distinct from an implied or associated idea. comparing a word's denotation with its connotations. In fact, the "Parks and Recreation" alum said he didn't know the word's medical denotation. Nardine Saad. 3. a. : a denoting term : name. b. : sign, indication.
noun. the explicit or direct meaning or set of meanings of a word or expression, as distinguished from the ideas or meanings associated with it or suggested by it; the association or set of associations that a word usually elicits for most speakers of a language, as distinguished from those elicited for any individual speaker because of ...
the main meaning of a word, not including the feelings or ideas that people may connect with the word. [ U ] language specialized. the act of referring to something or naming it using a word. Compare. connotation. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Meaning & significance. acceptation. add up to something. backspin.
Denotation Definition. What is denotation? Here’s a quick and simple definition: Denotation is the literal meaning, or "dictionary definition," of a word. Denotation is defined in contrast to connotation, which is the array of emotions and ideas suggested by a word in addition to its dictionary definition.
the main meaning of a word, not including the feelings or ideas that people may connect with the word. [ U ] language specialized. the act of referring to something or naming it using a word. Compare. connotation. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Meaning & significance. acceptation. add up to something. backspin.
Denotation means the literal meaning of a word or name. Although Paris might make you think of romance, its denotation is simply "the city of an old tribe called the Parisii." The Latin word denotare means "to mark," and denotation originally meant "the act of marking or the expression of something through a sign."
In linguistics and philosophy, the denotation of an expression is its literal meaning. For instance, the English word "warm" denotes the property of having high temperature. Denotation is contrasted with other aspects of meaning including connotation .
