indicates or refers to something; serves as a sign or symbol of
from Latin 'denotare' meaning 'to mark out', from 'de-' (completely) + 'notare' (to mark), from 'nota' (mark, sign)
In logic and linguistics, there's a crucial difference between what a word 'denotes' (its literal meaning) and what it 'connotes' (its emotional associations). Red denotes a color but connotes passion or danger!
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