Answer:
B). The study of word meanings.
Explanation:
Semantics is described as the study of varied significant meanings affiliated to words or phrases, symbols or signs, etc. in a language. It is associated with the relationship between the signifiers and signs(symbols) that helps the readers to understand the possible meanings of a word and relate the meaning of the word as per the context of the sentence(denotative or connotative meaning).
As per the question, the best definition of semantics would be 'the study of word meanings' as it primarily studies the different meanings of the words in a language. It however includes the symbolic meaning(connotatively) but it chiefly focuses on varied meanings of a particular word that aids to widen the knowledge of the readers and understand it more comprehensively. Thus, option B is the correct answer.
