meanings
What words convey
Meanings are the things that words, symbols, or actions convey—what they signify or intend to communicate.
A word may have multiple meanings depending on context.
Beyond language, meaning extends to significance or purpose: What's the meaning of this interruption?
She searched for meaning in her life.
The plural often appears with modifiers: hidden meanings, double meanings, layers of meaning.
Word's explicit dictionary meaning
- sensePerception or judgment
- dictionaryAlphabetical word reference
- lexiconVocabulary of a language
- glossaryAlphabetical list with definitions
entry · explanation · description · etymology · polysemy · homonymy · synonymy · antonymy
Subdued background quality
- overtoneSubsidiary meaning or harmonic
- subtextImplicit meaning beneath words
- implicationIndirect suggestion or consequence
- suggestionIdea proposed for consideration
innuendo · association · coloring · flavor · tone · nuance · shade · hint
State of mattering
- relevanceState of mattering here
- purposeReason something exists
- valueImportance or price
- consequenceResult of an action
weight · gravity · essence · bearing · pertinence · implication · worth · moment
Interpreting written text
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
- hermeneuticsStudy of interpretation methods
- explicationDetailed interpretive analysis
analysis · decoding · elucidation · clarification · commentary · gloss · translation · paraphrase
Study of signs, symbols
- pragmaticsLanguage-in-context study
- linguisticsScience of language structure
- syntaxRules for arranging words
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
lexical · signifier · signified · reference · ambiguity · context · discourse · symbolism
denotation
Word's explicit dictionary meaning
- sensePerception or judgment
- dictionaryAlphabetical word reference
- lexiconVocabulary of a language
glossary · entry · explanation · description · etymology · polysemy · homonymy · synonymy · antonymy · word
undertone
Subdued background quality
- overtoneSubsidiary meaning or harmonic
- subtextImplicit meaning beneath words
- implicationIndirect suggestion or consequence
suggestion · innuendo · association · coloring · flavor · tone · nuance · shade · hint · resonance
importance
State of mattering
consequence · weight · gravity · essence · bearing · pertinence · implication · worth · moment · effect
reading
Interpreting written text
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
- hermeneuticsStudy of interpretation methods
explication · analysis · decoding · elucidation · clarification · commentary · gloss · translation · paraphrase · construal
semiotics
Study of signs, symbols
- pragmaticsLanguage-in-context study
- linguisticsScience of language structure
- syntaxRules for arranging words
morphology · lexical · signifier · signified · reference · ambiguity · context · discourse · symbolism · representation
- understandingsagreements, accords, pacts, treaties, deals
- Chinese dictionariesdictionaries, Chinese-English, English-Chinese, entries, definitions
- dictionary partsdefinition, words, entry, definitions, part of speech
- Abstractsabstractions, concepts, ideas, properties, qualities
- vocabularyword, words, new words, term, terms
- qualitative datainterviews, observations, field notes, focus groups, transcripts
meaningsnonsense
Meaningless words or actions
meaninglessness · gibberish · senselessness · emptiness · absurdity
meaningsmeaninglessness
Lack of significance
pointlessness · purposelessness · insignificance · senselessness · futility
meaningsobscurities
Unclear or puzzling elements
ambiguities · unintelligibility · incomprehensibility · opacity · mysteries
- meaning of lifeUltimate existential purpose
- hidden meaningUnspoken message beneath surface
- double meaningOne phrase, two senses
- meaning toHaving intent toward
- meaning businessGenuinely intent on action
- deeper meaningSignificance beyond the surface
meaning, meaningful, meaningfully, meaningfulness, unmeaningful