Which term describes the literal dictionary meaning of a word?

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Multiple Choice

Which term describes the literal dictionary meaning of a word?

Explanation:
Denotation is the literal dictionary meaning of a word—the explicit, formal definition you would find in a dictionary. It’s the objective sense of a word, free of personal feelings or cultural associations. In contrast, connotation involves the ideas, emotions, and implications that a word carries beyond its dictionary definition. For example, while “home” denotatively means the place where one lives, its connotations include warmth and safety. The other terms don’t fit: juxtaposition is about placing ideas side by side for comparison, and a paradox is a self-contradictory statement that reveals a truth.

Denotation is the literal dictionary meaning of a word—the explicit, formal definition you would find in a dictionary. It’s the objective sense of a word, free of personal feelings or cultural associations. In contrast, connotation involves the ideas, emotions, and implications that a word carries beyond its dictionary definition. For example, while “home” denotatively means the place where one lives, its connotations include warmth and safety. The other terms don’t fit: juxtaposition is about placing ideas side by side for comparison, and a paradox is a self-contradictory statement that reveals a truth.

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