denotation

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

denotation
    n 1: the act of indicating or pointing out by name [syn:
         {indication}, {denotation}]
    2: the most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression;
       the class of objects that an expression refers to; "the
       extension of `satellite of Mars' is the set containing only
       Demos and Phobos" [syn: {reference}, {denotation},
       {extension}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Denotation \De`no*ta"tion\, n. [L. denotatio: cf. F.
   d['e]notation.]
   The marking off or separation of anything. --Hammond.
   [1913 Webster]