denotation

C2 Topic:Communication

US /ˌdiː.noʊˈteɪ.ʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #479334

Meanings

1

noun
The direct, literal meaning of a word, as opposed to the feelings it suggests.

The denotation of 'home' is simply a place to live, but it connotes warmth and safety.
2

noun
The thing or set of things that a word refers to.

The two phrases differ in connotation but share the same denotation.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the direct, literal meaning... extension

Word family

Forms denotations

Derived forms denotationaldenotative

Related forms connotation

Etymology

From Late Latin dēnotātiō, from Latin dēnotāre (“to denote, mark out”) + -tiō (suffix forming nouns of action), from dē- (“completely”) + notāre (“to mark”); equivalent to denote + -ation.

dēnotātiō la-lat denoto Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Communication Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# denotation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌdiː.noʊˈteɪ.ʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 479334

## Meanings
1. The direct, literal meaning of a word, as opposed to the feelings it suggests.
2. The thing or set of things that a word refers to.

## Examples
- The denotation of 'home' is simply a place to live, but it connotes warmth and safety.
- The two phrases differ in connotation but share the same denotation.

## Derived Forms
- denotational
- denotative

## Related Forms
- connotation

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: dēnotātiō
- Root: denoto

## Etymology
From Late Latin dēnotātiō, from Latin dēnotāre (“to denote, mark out”) + -tiō (suffix forming nouns of action), from dē- (“completely”) + notāre (“to mark”); equivalent to denote + -ation.

## AI Etymology
Denotation is from Late Latin dēnotātiō, from Latin dēnotāre (“to denote, mark out”) + -tiō (suffix forming nouns of action), from dē- (“completely”) + notāre (“to mark”); equivalent to denote + -ation. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include dēnotātiō (la-lat) and denoto (Latin). Current senses include the direct, literal meaning of a word, as opposed to the feelings it suggests and the thing or set of things that a word refers to. The wider family includes derived forms such as denotational and denotative; related words such as connotation.

## Topics
- Communication
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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