Webster's English Dictionary

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meaning

mean.ing \'me--nin\ n 1a: the thing one intends to convey esp. by language 
   : PURPORT  1b: the thing that is conveyed esp. by language : IMPORT  2: 
   INTENT, PURPOSE  3: SIGNIFICANCE  4a: CONNOTATION  4b: DENOTATION 
   SIGNIFICANCE, IMPORT denote the idea conveyed to the mind. MEANING is the 
   general term used of anything (as a word, sign, poem, or action) requiring 
   or allowing of interpretation; SENSE denotes the meaning of more often a 
   particular meaning of a word or phrase; ACCEPTATION is used of a sense of a 
   word or phrase as regularly understood by a large number of speakers and 
   writers; SIGNIFICATION denotes the established meaning of a term, symbol, 
   or character; SIGNIFICANCE applies specifically to a covert as 
   distinguished from the ostensible meaning of an utterance, act, or work of 
   art; IMPORT suggests the meaning a speaker tries to convey esp. through 
   language - meaning aj SYN syn MEANING, SENSE, ACCEPTATION, SIGNIFICATION,