Denotation refers to which aspect of a word's meaning?

Denotation refers to which aspect of a word's meaning?

• A. The emotional associations
• B. The literal dictionary meaning
• C. The tone or attitude
• D. The implied message

Answer: (B)

Denotation is the literal dictionary meaning of a word—the direct, explicit definition you would find in a dictionary. It gives you the straightforward sense of a word without taking into account feelings or associations it might evoke. The other aspects in the choices—the emotional associations, the tone or attitude, and an implied message—relate to connotation or what the word suggests beyond its strict definition. For example, the denotation of a word like snake is the animal itself; its connotations might include danger or treachery. So the denotation is all about the basic, factual meaning.

Denotation is the literal dictionary meaning of a word—the direct, explicit definition you would find in a dictionary. It gives you the straightforward sense of a word without taking into account feelings or associations it might evoke. The other aspects in the choices—the emotional associations, the tone or attitude, and an implied message—relate to connotation or what the word suggests beyond its strict definition. For example, the denotation of a word like snake is the animal itself; its connotations might include danger or treachery. So the denotation is all about the basic, factual meaning.