The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Denote \De*note"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denoted; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Denoting.] [L. denotare; de- + notare to mark, nota
   mark, sign, note: cf. F. d['e]noter. See Note.]
   1. To mark out plainly; to signify by a visible sign; to
      serve as the sign or name of; to indicate; to point out;
      as, the hands of the clock denote the hour.
      [1913 Webster]

            The better to denote her to the doctor. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To be the sign of; to betoken; to signify; to mean.
      [1913 Webster]

            A general expression to denote wickedness of every
            sort.                                 --Gilpin.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

denote
    v 1: be a sign or indication of; "Her smile denoted that she
         agreed"
    2: have as a meaning; "`multi-' denotes `many' " [syn: denote,
       refer]
    3: make known; make an announcement; "She denoted her feelings
       clearly" [syn: announce, denote]