/ dɪˈnəʊt; NAmE dɪˈnoʊt/ verb ( formal )
1.
to be a sign of sth
SYN indicate :
[ vn ]
A very high temperature often denotes a serious illness.
[also v that ]
2.
to mean sth
SYN represent :
[ vn ]
In this example 'X' denotes the time taken and 'Y' denotes the distance covered.
The red triangle denotes danger.
Here 'family' denotes mother, father and children.
[also v wh- ]
—compare connote
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (in the sense be a sign of, mark out ): from French dénoter or Latin denotare , from de- away, thoroughly + notare observe, note (from nota a mark).