/dee'noh tay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the explicit or direct meaning or set of meanings of a word or expression, as distinguished from the ideas or meanings associated with it or suggested by it; the association or set of associations that a word usually elicits for most speakers of a language, as distinguished from those elicited for any individual speaker because of personal experience. Cf. connotation .
2. a word that names or signifies something specific: "Wind" is the denotation for air in natural motion. "Poodle" is the denotation for a certain breed of dog.
3. the act or fact of denoting; indication.
4. something that denotes; mark; symbol.
5. Logic.
a. the class of particulars to which a term is applicable.
b. that which is represented by a sign.
[ 1525-35; denotation- (s. of denotatio ) a marking out, equiv. to denotat ( us ) (ptp. of denotare; see DENOTE) + -ion- -ION ]