semantics

semantics
A branch of semiotics : 1. The study of the significance and development of the meaning of words. 2. The study concerned with the relations between signs and their referents; the relations between the signs of a system; and human behavioral reaction to signs, including unconscious attitudes, influences of social institutions, and epistemological and linguistic assumptions. [G. semaino, to show]

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se·man·tics si-'mant-iks n pl but sing or pl in constr the study of meanings:
a) the historical and psychological study and the classification of changes in the signification of words or forms viewed as factors in linguistic development
b ) (1) SEMIOTIC (2) a branch of semiotic dealing with the relations between signs and what they refer to and including theories of denotation, extension, naming, and truth

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se·man·tics (sə-manґtiks) [Gr. sēmantikos significant, from sēma a sign] the study of the meanings of words and the rules of their use; the study of the relationship between language and significance.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Semantics — is the study of meaning in communication. The word derives from Greek σημαντικός ( semantikos ), significant , [cite web|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2393797|title=Semantikos, Henry… …   Wikipedia

  • Semantics — Sem*an tics, n. sing. or pl. [Gr. shmantikos having meaning, from sh^ma a sign.] 1. the study of the meanings of words and of the sense development of words; formerly called {semasiology}. [PJC] 2. a doctrine and philosophical approach to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • semantics — [sə man′tiks] n. [< SEMANTIC, based on Fr sémantique] 1. the branch of linguistics concerned with the nature, the structure, and the development and changes of the meanings of speech forms, or with contextual meaning 2. a) SEMIOTICS b) the… …   English World dictionary

  • semantics — index meaning Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • Semantics —   [engl.], Semantik …   Universal-Lexikon

  • semantics — science of meaning in language, 1893, from Fr. sémantique (1883); see SEMANTIC (Cf. semantic) (also see ICS (Cf. ics)). Replaced semasiology (1847), from Ger. Semasiologie (1829), from Gk. semasia signification, meaning …   Etymology dictionary

  • semantics — ► PLURAL NOUN (usu. treated as sing. ) 1) the branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning. 2) the meaning of a word, phrase, sentence, or text. DERIVATIVES semanticist noun …   English terms dictionary

  • semantics — semanticist /si man teuh sist/, semantician /see man tish euhn/, n. /si man tiks/, n. (used with a sing. v.) 1. Ling. a. the study of meaning. b. the study of linguistic development by classifying and examining changes in meaning and form. 2.… …   Universalium

  • semantics — General semantics Gen er*al sem*an tics, n. (1933) a doctrine and philosophical approach to language and its relationship to thought and behavior, developed by Alfred Korzybski (1879 1950), which holds that the capacity to express ideas and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • semantics — noun /sɪˈmæntɪks/ a) A branch of linguistics studying the meaning of words. Semantics is a foundation of lexicography. b) The study of the relationship between words and their meanings. The semantics of the terms used are debatable. See Also:… …   Wiktionary

  • semantics — n. general; generative semantics * * * [sɪ mæntɪks] generative semantics general …   Combinatory dictionary

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