Semantic

Relating to meaning in language or logic, especially the meaning of words, phrases, signs, and symbols. semantic analysis focuses on interpreting the meaning of words and sentences, and understanding how these meanings combine to form larger units of communication. It involves examining the relationship between linguistic expressions and the objects, concepts, or ideas they represent. The study also addresses how meaning is affected by context, including the speaker's intention, the listener's interpretation, and the surrounding discourse.

Semantic meaning with examples

• The software developer meticulously checked for 'semantic errors' in the code, ensuring that each instruction, while syntactically correct, actually performed the intended function and produced the expected output. The subtle differences in variable naming were closely examined to avoid any ambiguity in the program’s operation.
• In 'semantic web' development, metadata is used to describe the content of web pages, so machines can understand not just the syntax of information but also its meaning and relationships, facilitating more intelligent and automated search and data integration across diverse online resources.
• A skilled linguist studies the 'semantic' nuances of different dialects to comprehend how the same words might convey different meanings, or how specific phrases are employed to express ideas with varying levels of formality and implied social context.
• When translating texts from another language, the goal is to perform a 'semantic' translation, accurately conveying the meaning of the original text, even when directly translating each word would result in an inaccurate or unnatural rendering.