from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Semantics \Sem*an"tics\, n. sing. or pl. [Gr. shmantikos having
meaning, from sh^ma a sign.]
1. the study of the meanings of words and of the sense
development of words; -- formerly called {semasiology}.
[PJC]
2. a doctrine and philosophical approach to language and its
relationship to thought and behavior, developed by Alfred
Korzybski (1879-1950), which holds that the capacity to
express ideas and thereby improve one's interaction with
others and one's environment is enhanced by training in
the more critical use of words and other symbols; -- also
called {{general semantics}}.
[PJC]
3. the meanings of words as they are used to achieve an
effect; especially, the multiple meanings of words or the
multiplicity of words having the same meaning; -- used in
referring to the confusion that can be caused
(intentionally or unintentionally) by multiple meanings;
as, there's no real difference, it's only a matter of
semantics.
[PJC]