semiosis

noun

se·mi·o·sis ˌsē-mē-ˈō-səs

ˌse-mē-

ˌsē-ˌmī-

: a process in which something functions as a sign to an organism

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek sēmeíōsis "indication, notice, inference from a sign," from sēmeiō-, variant stem of sēmeióomai, sēmeioústhai "to interpret from signs, infer" (derivative of sēmeîon "marking, sign, signal") + -sis -sis — more at semantic

First Known Use

circa 1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of semiosis was circa 1907

See more words from the same year