Which term refers to the basic dictionary meaning of a word?

Which term refers to the basic dictionary meaning of a word?

• A. Connotation
• B. Consonance
• C. Denotation
• D. Debate

Answer: (C)

Denotation is the basic dictionary meaning of a word—the literal, explicit definition you’d find in a dictionary. It focuses on the concrete thing the word names, without emotion or associations. Connotation refers to the feelings, ideas, or cultural associations a word carries beyond its literal meaning. For example, the denotation of "home" is the place where someone lives; its connotations can include warmth, safety, and family. Consonance is a literary device about repeating consonant sounds, not meaning, and debate means a discussion or argument, not a word’s dictionary definition.

Denotation is the basic dictionary meaning of a word—the literal, explicit definition you’d find in a dictionary. It focuses on the concrete thing the word names, without emotion or associations. Connotation refers to the feelings, ideas, or cultural associations a word carries beyond its literal meaning. For example, the denotation of "home" is the place where someone lives; its connotations can include warmth, safety, and family. Consonance is a literary device about repeating consonant sounds, not meaning, and debate means a discussion or argument, not a word’s dictionary definition.