acepção

Acepção is a term used in linguistics to refer to the meaning of a word or phrase in a specific context. It is derived from the Latin word "acceptio," which means "receiving" or "acceptance." In linguistics, acepção is often used to distinguish between the literal meaning of a word (its denotation) and its actual meaning in a particular context (its connotation).

The concept of acepção is particularly important in the study of polysemy, where a single word has multiple related meanings. For example, the word "bank" has different acepções depending on whether it refers to a financial institution or the side of a river. Understanding acepção is crucial for accurate communication and translation, as the same word can have different meanings in different contexts.

Acepção can also change over time as the language evolves. For instance, the word "cool" once meant "pleasantly cold," but it has since taken on new acepções, such as "very good" or "trendy." This evolution of meaning is a natural part of language development and is studied by linguists to understand how languages change and adapt.

In summary, acepção is a key concept in linguistics that helps explain how words and phrases take on specific meanings in different contexts. It is a fundamental aspect of language study and usage.