In communication, denotation is the level of

The correct answer is Description.

In communication studies and semiotics, denotation refers to the literal, direct, or dictionary meaning of a word, sign, or image. It represents the objective representation of something at its most basic level of description, free from any associated emotional suggestions, cultural values, or subjective interpretations.

In contrast, connotation refers to the secondary, cultural, or emotional meanings that a word or sign carries. Therefore, when we look at a word or symbol, the denotation is simply what it describes or represents directly, making it the level of description.