The primary, literal or explicit meaning of 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
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.
The observable (verifiable), real-world content of a message A term borrowed from the early 20th-Century school of "General Semantics" (see Steven Lewis's General Semantics site) Compare connotation Compare also intent
To signify or stand as a name for The explicit meaning of a word (example: Policeman means Officer of the Law If you referred to the Policeman as a Cop, it still Denotes the same literal meaning, but the word "cop" has a different Connotation) See also Connotation
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"
The literal dictionary meaning(s) of a word as distinct from an associated idea or connotation Sidelight: Many words have more than one denotation, such as the multiple meanings of fair or spring In ordinary language, we strive for a single precise meaning of words to avoid ambiguity, but poets often take advantage of words with more than one meaning to suggest more than one idea with the same word A pun also utilizes multiple meanings as a play on words