n.
- The act of denoting; indication.
- Something, such as a sign or symbol, that denotes.
- Something signified or referred to; a particular meaning of a symbol.
- The most specific or direct meaning of a word, in contrast to its figurative or associated meanings.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.