Denotation
The literal, explicit meaning of a word as found in a dictionary, without emotional or associative overtones. Denotation is the straightforward definition of a word.
Real World
A dictionary defines 'home' as 'a place of residence', but in John Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men', George and Lennie's dream of owning land shows how far a word's denotation can be overshadowed by what it implies emotionally.
Exam Focus
Use denotation as your starting point before moving to connotation — establishing literal meaning first shows analytical discipline to examiners.
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