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semantics - 6 dictionary results
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se⋅man⋅tics

  [si-man-tiks]
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–noun (used with a singular verb)
1. Linguistics.
a. the study of meaning.
b. the study of linguistic development by classifying and examining changes in meaning and form.
2. Also called significs. the branch of semiotics dealing with the relations between signs and what they denote.
3. the meaning, or an interpretation of the meaning, of a word, sign, sentence, etc.: Let's not argue about semantics.
4. general semantics.
Origin:
1895–1900; see semantic, -ics

Related forms:
se⋅man⋅ti⋅cist  [si-man-tuh-sist] , se⋅man⋅ti⋅cian  [see-man-tish-uhn] , noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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se·man·tics   (sĭ-mān'tĭks)   
n.   (used with a sing. or pl. verb)
  1. Linguistics The study or science of meaning in language.
  2. Linguistics The study of relationships between signs and symbols and what they represent. Also called semasiology.
  3. The meaning or the interpretation of a word, sentence, or other language form: We're basically agreed; let's not quibble over semantics.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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semantics

The scientific or philosophical study of the relations of words and their meanings.

Note: Semantics is commonly used to refer to a trivial point or distinction that revolves around mere words rather than significant issues: “To argue whether the medication killed the patient or contributed to her death is to argue over semantics.”
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Main Entry: se·man·tics
Pronunciation: si-'mant-iks
Function: noun plural but singular or plural in construction
: 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 includingtheories of denotation, extension, naming, and truth
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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semantics se·man·tics (sĭ-mān'tĭks)
n.

  1. The study or science of meaning in language forms.
  2. The study of the relationships between various signs and symbols and what they represent.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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semantics theory
The meaning of a string in some language, as opposed to syntax which describes how symbols may be combined independent of their meaning.
The semantics of a programming language is a function from programs to answers. A program is a closed term and, in practical languages, an answer is a member of the syntactic category of values. The two main kinds are denotational semantics and operational semantics.
(1995-06-21)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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