English Explanatory Dictionary

semiotics

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The study of signs and symbols, especially as means of language or communication.
  2. The study of medical signs and symptoms; symptomatology.

Pronunciation

/ˌsɛm.iˈɒt.ɪks/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-semiotics.wav /ˌsɛm.iˈɑt.ɪks/ /ˌsiː.miˈɑt.ɪks/ /ˌsiː.maɪˈɑt.ɪks/

Word forms

semiotics

Etymology

Coined by John Locke from Ancient Greek σημειωτικός (sēmeiōtikós, “fitted for marking, portending”), from σημειόω (sēmeióō, “to mark, interpret as a portend”), from σημεῖον (sēmeîon, “a mark, sign, token”), from σῆμα (sêma, “mark, sign”).

Related words

semantic semantics semasiology sematic sematology seme sememe semiosis semiotic semiology symbology

Derived words

anthroposemiotics biosemiotics endosemiotics exosemiotics phytosemiotics psychosemiotics sociological semiotics sociosemiotics zoosemiotics
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