Word: denote (verb)

Associations

"Denote" means to show, mean, or stand for something clearly. It is often used when talking about symbols, signs, or words that represent an idea or object.

• "The red color on the map denotes danger." Here, "denotes" means the red color shows or means danger.
• "A smile often denotes happiness." This means a smile usually shows or represents happiness.
• "The word 'dog' denotes a type of animal." This means the word stands for or means that animal. A similar word is "indicate," but "denote" is more direct about meaning or definition, while "indicate" can be more about suggesting or pointing to something.

Substitution

You can use words like:

• mean — "The word 'apple' means a fruit."
• represent — "The flag represents the country."
• indicate — "The arrow indicates the direction." Each word changes the feeling slightly: "mean" is about definition, "represent" is about standing for something, and "indicate" is more about showing or pointing out.

Deconstruction

• Root: "note" comes from Latin "notare," meaning "to mark" or "to note."
• Prefix: "de-" often means "down" or "away," but here it helps form the verb. "Denote" literally means "to mark down" or "to indicate by a mark," which fits its meaning of showing or meaning something.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a symbol or sign that denotes something important in your culture?
• How would you use "denote" to explain the meaning of a word in a dictionary?
• Have you seen colors or shapes that denote special meanings in everyday life? What are they?