annotation

/ˈænəˌteɪʃən/

/ænəʊˈteɪʃən/

Other forms: annotations

Annotations are simply notes or comments. If you have trouble understanding Shakespeare, you may want to buy a copy of "Hamlet" with annotations on each page that explain all the vocabulary words and major themes.

The word annotation comes from the Latin root words ad, meaning "to," and notare, meaning "to note." The act of adding explanatory notes to something is also called annotation, as in "Your friends might be amused by your annotation of the text, but I don't think the professor will accept "No one knows and no one cares!" as a reason for why the protagonist acted the way he did."

Definitions of annotation

1. noun

   the act of adding notes
   synonyms: annotating

   type of:

   expanding upon, expansion

   adding information or detail
2. noun

   a comment or instruction (usually added)
   synonyms: notation, note

   types:

   poste restante

   a notation written on mail that is to be held at the post office until called for (not in the United States or Canada)

   acknowledgment, citation, cite, credit, mention, quotation, reference

   a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage

   footer, footnote

   a printed note placed below the text on a printed page

   N.B., NB, nota bene

   a Latin phrase (or its abbreviation) used to indicate that special attention should be paid to something

   PS, postscript

   a note appended to a letter after the signature

   photo credit

   a note acknowledging the source of a published photograph

   cross-index, cross-reference

   a reference at one place in a work to information at another place in the same work

   type of:

   comment, commentary

   a written explanation or criticism or illustration that is added to a book or other textual material