DENOTATION

reference, denotation, extension

(noun) the most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression; the class of objects that an expression refers to; “the extension of ‘satellite of Mars’ is the set containing only Demos and Phobos”

indication, denotation

(noun) the act of indicating or pointing out by name

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

denotation (countable and uncountable, plural denotations)

The act of denoting, or something (such as a symbol) that denotes

(logic, linguistics, semiotics) The primary, surface, literal, or explicit meaning of a signifier such as a word, phrase, or symbol; that which a word denotes, as contrasted with its connotation; the aggregate or set of objects of which a word may be predicated.

(philosophy, logic) The intension and extension of a word

(semantics) Something signified or referred to; a particular meaning of a symbol

(computer science) Any mathematical object which describes the meanings of expressions from the languages, formalized in the theory of denotational semantics

(media studies) A first level of analysis: what the audience can visually see on a page. Denotation often refers to something literal, and avoids being a metaphor.

Anagrams

• detonation, taeniodont

Source: Wiktionary


De`no*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. denotatio: cf. F. dénotation.]

Definition: The marking off or separation of anything. Hammond.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

30 June 2025

BODILY

(adjective) affecting or characteristic of the body as opposed to the mind or spirit; “bodily needs”; “a corporal defect”; “corporeal suffering”; “a somatic symptom or somatic illness”


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Coffee Trivia

International Coffee Day (September 29) is an occasion to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events occurring in places across the world. A day to promote fair trade coffee and raise awareness for the coffee growers’ plight. Other countries celebrate this event on October 1.

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