semantics
noun/sɪˈmæntɪks/
Etymology From French sémantique, displacing earlier semasiology. From Ancient Greek σημαντικός (sēmantikós). By surface analysis, semantic + -ics.
1
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences A branch of linguistics studying the meaning of words.
- Holonym: linguistics
- Meronyms: semasiology, onomasiology
4 more examples
- lexical semantics
- cognitive semantics
- computational semantics
- historical semantics
2
The study of the relationship between words and their meanings.
- In fact, nowadays a lot is known about the semantics of natural languages, and it is surprisingly easy to build semantic representations which partially capture the meaning of sentences or even entire discourses.2006, Patrick Blackburn, Johan Bos, Kristina Striegnitz, Learn Prolog Now!, archived from the original on 28 Mar 2015, section 8.1:
3
The meaning or set of meanings of a linguistic element, such as a word, morpheme or utterance.
- In very ancient or poorly documented languages, the precise semantics of words tend to be uncertain.
4
The meanings of individual words, as opposed to the overall meaning of a passage.
- The semantics of the terms used are debatable.
5
Computer, Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Science, Sciences The meaning of computer language constructs, in contrast to their form or syntax.
- file sharing and locking semantics
6
Broadly, Colloquial, Of a detail or distinction Pettiness or triviality.
- Who cares? This is all just semantics!
- Derived terms
- algebraic semantics, applied semantics, axiomatic semantics, biosemantics, computational semantics, denotational semantics, distributional semantics, ethnosemantics, formal semantics, general semantics, lexical semantics, lexicosemantics, mathematical semantics, metasemantics, minimal recursion semantics, morphosemantics, neurosemantics, operational semantics, phonosemantics, psychosemantics, semantics-free, statistical semantics, teleosemantics, zoosemantics
- Related terms
- semantic, semantisation, semasiology, sematic, sematology, seme, sememe, semiotic, semiotics