semiotics

[ see-mee-ot-iks, sem-ee-, see-mahy- ]
/ ˌsi miˈɒt ɪks, ˌsɛm i-, ˌsi maɪ- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR semiotics ON THESAURUS.COM

noun (used with a singular verb)

the study of signs and symbols as elements of communicative behavior; the analysis of systems of communication, as language, gestures, or clothing.
a general theory of signs and symbolism, usually divided into the branches of pragmatics, semantics, and syntactics.

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Origin of semiotics

First recorded in 1875–80; see origin at semiotic, -ics

OTHER WORDS FROM semiotics

se·mi·o·ti·cian [see-mee-uh-tish-uhn, sem-ee-, see-mahy-], /ˌsi mi əˈtɪʃ ən, ˌsɛm i-, ˌsi maɪ-/, noun

Words nearby semiotics

semiology, semiopaque, semi-open anesthesia, semiotic, semiotician, semiotics, semioviparous, Semipalatinsk, semipalmate, semipalmated plover, semipalmated sandpiper
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to semiotics

symbolism, parole, semantics, pragmatics, langue, syntactics

Example sentences from the Web for semiotics

British Dictionary definitions for semiotics

semiotics

semeiotics

/ (ˌsɛmɪˈɒtɪks, ˌsiːmɪ-) /

noun (functioning as singular)

the study of signs and symbols, esp the relations between written or spoken signs and their referents in the physical world or the world of ideasSee also semantics, syntactics, pragmatics
the scientific study of the symptoms of disease; symptomatology
Also: semiology, semeiology
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012