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