n pl but sing or pl in constr :  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 .
 
 
 
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