də̇ˈnōt, dēˈ-, usu -ōd.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle French denoter, from Latin denotare, from de- + notare to mark, note — more at note
1. : to serve as indication of : show by signs the presence or existence of : betoken
symptoms that denote tuberculosis
thickets of aspen, willow, and cottonwood denote underlying water — American Guide Series: Washington
2. : to serve as an arbitrary mark for : designate as a sign : mark
red flares denoting danger
the slanting strokes at the bottom denote the number — Edward Clodd
a flag flown upside down to denote distress
3. obsolete : write down : describe
4. : to make known : announce
denoting his feelings clearly
5.
a. : serve as linguistic expression of the notion of : mean
mono- may denote “one” or “single”
b. : to designate by an indicated symbol
let me denote by T the lapse of time — K.K.Darrow
c. logic : to stand for : signify by way of denotation : name
the name … is said to signify the subjects directly, the attributes indirectly; it denotes the subjects and … connotes the attributes — J.S.Mill
Synonyms: see mean