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Glite Dictionary
denotatum

denotatum

9.9
A real thing in the world that a word refers to
  • noun
  • /ˌdɛnəˈteɪtəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : denotatum
  • The denotatum of the word 'tree' is a physical tree in the real world.

Examples

  • The denotatum of the word 'dog' is a domesticated animal.

  • When analyzing a sentence, it is important to distinguish between its sense and its denotatum.

  • Different words may have the same denotatum but different connotations.

  • In linguistic studies, a denotatum refers to the actual object.

  • The denotatum of the word 'tree' is a physical tree in the real world.

  • Different words may have the same denotatum but different connotations.

  • When analyzing a sentence, it is important to distinguish between its sense and its denotatum.

Synonyms

reference
vsdenotatum
  • Specialized
156 5.5

The thing a word or phrase points to

is about the actual objects rather than the relation
referent
vsdenotatum
  • Specialized
3 8.1

A person, animal or thing that a word talks about

is limited to entities that exist in the real world
designatum
vsdenotatum
  • Specialized
9.9

A thing a word refers to, real or imagined

specifies only objects that actually exist in the world

How Specific

denotatum
  • Specialized
9.9
referent
  • Specialized
3 8.1
object
739 1.0
entity
349 5.3
thing
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

denotatum singular
denotata plural

Etymology

The word denotatum comes from Latin parts de- and notare, where notare means 'to mark' and you can see the same root in note. So a denotatum is the real thing a word 'marks' or points to in the world.