Background for denotations

denotations

/ˌdiːnoʊˈteɪʃənz/ /ˌdɛnoʊˈteɪʃənz/

Illustration denotations - Image 1

noun

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

Examples :

"Dictionaries explain the different denotations of the word "cool": one for temperature and another for popularity. "

language linguistics word communication

Illustration denotations - Image 1

noun

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.

Examples :

"The denotations of the two expressions "the morning star" and "the evening star" are the same (i.e. both expressions denote the planet Venus), but their connotations are different."

language linguistics communication literature philosophy word

Illustration denotations - Image 1

noun

The intension and extension of a word

Examples :

"The denotations of the word "family" encompass both the immediate members and the broader extended relations. "

language linguistics philosophy word

Illustration denotations - Image 1

noun

Something signified or referred to; a particular meaning of a symbol

Examples :

"Dictionaries list different denotations of the word "bank," depending on whether you're talking about money or a river. "

language linguistics word communication

Illustration denotations - Image 1

noun

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

Examples :

"In denotational semantics, different programming language expressions can have distinct denotations, such as numbers or functions, which precisely define what each expression means to the computer. "

math theory logic computing language

Illustration denotations - Image 1

noun

(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.

Examples :

"The photograph's denotations are simply a woman smiling, a green park, and a bright blue sky; these are the literal elements we can easily identify. "

media language communication