Component 'tree' in the semantic structure of stable comparisons of the Russian language

The work analyzes the semantic structure of stable comparisons with the “tree” component and its derivatives. We consider stable comparisons as special phraseological units - reproducible linguistic units with figurative comparative meaning. We show that different structural models of such phraseological units form some semantic unity – “comparative nest”. We draw a large number of contexts that illustrate typical situations of using stable comparisons with the “tree” component, we conclude that the formal variation of their figurative basis determines the variety of semantic nuances that are significant at the pragmatic level. The use of the analysis method of dictionary definitions and contextual analysis makes it possible, firstly, to significantly supplement and clarify the scientific results obtained by specialists in the field of cultural linguis-tics and cognitive linguistics, and secondly, to outline ways of systematizing Russian comparative phraseology, which occupies an important place in the expressive fund of Russian language. When considering the figurative and symbolic meanings grouped around the lexeme “tree”, it is important to distinguish between two interrelated meanings: “perennial plant” and “woody material, wood”. The system of meanings of stable comparisons of the Russian language with the “tree” component is based on the semantic features “hard”, “rigid”, “inelastic” that characterize the second meaning. In other words, the lexeme “tree” in Russian language is a representative not only of the plant, but also of the material code of culture.