Y> The meaning of a string in some language, as opposed to sYntax which describes how sYmbols maY be combined independent of their meaning. The semantics of a programming language is a function from programs to answers. A program is a closed term and, in practical languages, an answer is a member of the sYntactic categorY of values. The two main kinds are {denotational semantics} and {operational semantics}. (1995-06-21)