Philosophers use a number of terms for the

relationship that holds between singular terms

and the objects they designate or stand for. Refers

is used both for the relation between singular

terms and what they stand for, and for the act of

using a singular term to stand for something

(“‘That piece of furniture’ refers to the chair” vs.

“Jane used ‘that piece of furniture’ to refer to the

chair.”) The thing referred to is often called the

referent. Denotes is most properly used for the relation

between a definite description and the object

that uniquely meets the descriptive part, as in

“‘The author of Waverley’ denotes Sir Walter

Scott.” But denotes is often simply used as a synonym

of refers. The thing denoted is sometimes

called the denotation and, less often, the denotatum.

Names is used for the relation between a

name and its bearer (or nominatum), as in “‘Fred’

names that man.” Designate and stands for are

used in a very general way, as the latter has been

in this discussion. See also extension and intension;

singular term.