Main Entry: se·man·tic
Pronunciation: si-'man-tik
Variant(s): also se·man·ti·cal
Etymology: Greek sEmantikos significant, from sEmainein to signify, mean, from sEma sign, token
Date: 1894
1 : of or relating to meaning in language
1 : 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
3 a : the meaning or relationship of meanings of a sign or set of signs; especially : connotative meaning b : the language used (as in advertising or political propaganda) to achieve a desired effect on an audience especially through the use of words with novel or dual meanings