To mark out plainly; to signify by a visible sign; to serve as the sign or name of; to indicate; to point out; as, the hands of the clock denote the hour
If one thing denotes another, it is a sign or indication of it. Red eyes denote strain and fatigue There was a message waiting, denoting that someone had been here ahead of her. = indicate
have as a meaning; "`multi-' denotes `many' " be a sign or indication of; "Her smile denoted that she agreed