In linguistics, selection denotes the ability of predicates to determine the semantic content of their arguments.
The predicate is wilting selects a subject argument that is a plant or is plant-like.
Similarly, the predicate drank selects an object argument that is a liquid or is liquid-like.
[8] Selectional preferences have often been used as a source of linguistic information in natural language processing applications.
[9] Thematic fit is a measure of how much a particular word in a particular role (like subject or direct object) matches the selectional preference of a particular predicate.
For example, the word cake has a high thematic fit as a direct object for cut.
Selection can be closely associated with thematic relations (e.g. agent, patient, theme, goal, etc.).