Quantization (linguistics)
In formal semantics, a predicate is quantized if it being true of an entity requires that it is not true of any proper subparts of that entity. For example, if something is an "apple", then no proper subpart of that thing is an "apple". If something is "water", then many of its subparts will also be "water". Hence, the predicate "apple" is quantized, while "water" is not.

Formally, a quantization predicate QUA can be defined as follows, where  is the universe of discourse,  is a variable over sets, and  is a mereological part structure on  with  the mereological part-of relation:

Quantization was first proposed by Manfred Krifka as part of his mereological approach to the semantics of nominals. It has since been applied to other phenomena such as telicity.

See also
 Fewer vs. less
 Mass noun
 Mereology
 Telicity

References

Logic
Semantics
Grammar