Which term is defined as the dictionary definition of the word?

Which term is defined as the dictionary definition of the word?

• A. Denotation
• B. Connotation
• C. Simile
• D. Metaphor

Answer: (A)

Understanding denotation and connotation helps explain why this choice is correct. Denotation is the dictionary definition of a word—the literal, explicit meaning you’d find in a reference. Connotation, on the other hand, is the set of associations or feelings a word invokes beyond its literal sense. The other terms are about how language is used: a simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using like or as, and a metaphor makes a direct comparison without using like or as. Since the question points to the dictionary definition itself, the correct term is denotation. For example, the denotation of “home” is a place where someone lives; its connotation might include warmth, safety, and family.

Understanding denotation and connotation helps explain why this choice is correct. Denotation is the dictionary definition of a word—the literal, explicit meaning you’d find in a reference. Connotation, on the other hand, is the set of associations or feelings a word invokes beyond its literal sense. The other terms are about how language is used: a simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using like or as, and a metaphor makes a direct comparison without using like or as. Since the question points to the dictionary definition itself, the correct term is denotation. For example, the denotation of “home” is a place where someone lives; its connotation might include warmth, safety, and family.