☰ Contents · Russian language

Vocabulary: word meaning and synonyms

Lessons 1–2 · 2 lessons · S. Yu. Islambekova, Yu. Yu. Musurmanova, Z. Kh. Abduraimova, L. N. Tagieva. Russian Language, Grade 10 (textbook for secondary, specialised secondary and vocational institutions with Uzbek and other languages of instruction), 1st edition. DAVR NASHRIYOTI, Tashkent, 2017
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§ 1. Word meaning. Monosemantic and polysemantic words

Textbook: pp. 3–5
GoalLearn to tell lexical meaning, monosemantic and polysemantic words, and direct and figurative meaning apart.
New words
лексика (vocabulary of a language) · лексика (leksika, lug‘at tarkibi)однозначное слово (monosemantic word) · однозначное слово (bir ma’noli so‘z)многозначное слово (polysemantic word) · многозначное слово (ko‘p ma’noli so‘z)переносное значение (figurative meaning) · переносное значение (ko‘chma ma’no)
Explanation

All the words of a language together make up its vocabulary, or «лексика». Each word has its own lexical meaning, that is, it tells us what the word stands for. A word with only one meaning is monosemantic; a word with several meanings is polysemantic. Monosemantic words are often terms and names of specific things, such as «гипотенуза» and «ромашка». The main meaning of a polysemantic word is its direct meaning; a meaning that grows out of a resemblance and is used in speech is figurative: «горячий чай» (direct), «горячий спор» (figurative). Only the context shows which meaning is meant, so look up unknown words in an explanatory dictionary.

Worked examples
The polysemantic word «ножка»: 1) «ножка стула», the supporting part of a chair; 2) «ножка гриба», the stalk of a mushroom; 3) «ножка», a small leg (an affectionate form).
Direct and figurative meaning: «Холодный ветер дул с гор» (direct), «Он встретил нас холодным взглядом» (figurative: unfriendly).
Class activity

“Find the meaning”. The teacher names one polysemantic word («лист»); in two minutes each group builds as many sentences with different meanings as it can. The group with the most meanings wins.

Practice
1
Which is monosemantic, «ромашка» or «лист»? Explain.
2
Show two meanings of «ручка» in sentences.
3
Decide direct or figurative: «каменная стена» and «каменное сердце».
4
Why is «компьютер» treated as monosemantic but «мышь» as polysemantic?