noun

sense

The meaning conveyed by an expression or action.

The word has a different sense in this sentence.

Etymology

Latin sensus includes meaning and understanding as well as perception. The linguistic sense is what an expression enables someone to understand.

More examples

  • I understood the general sense of his reply.
  • The translation changed the sense of the original passage.
  • She used the expression in its narrowest sense.

Forms

sense · senses

Similar words

meaning
The usual broad term for what an expression conveys.
import
A more formal term for significance or conveyed meaning.