Denotive

de·note  (d-nt)

tr.v. de·not·ed, de·not·ing, de·notes

1. To mark; indicate: a frown that denoted increasing impatience.

2. To serve as a symbol or name for the meaning of; signify: A flashing yellow light denotes caution.

3. To signify directly; refer to specifically.

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[French dénoter, from Latin dnotre : d-, de- + notre, to mark; see connote.]

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de·nota·ble adj.

de·notive adj.

Usage Note: Denote and connote are often confused because both words have senses that entail signification. Denote means "to signify directly or literally" and describes the relation between the word and the thing it conventionally names. Connote means "to signify indirectly, suggest or imply" and describes the relation between the word and the images or associations it evokes. Thus, the word river denotes a moving body of water and may connote such things as the relentlessness of time and the changing nature of life.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

denotive - having the power of explicitly denoting or designating or naming denotative explicit, expressed - precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable; leaving nothing to implication; "explicit instructions"; "she made her wishes explicit"; "explicit sexual scenes"