Component interpretation of free associations as a method to describe the semantics of basic units

For the first time the article provides a comprehensive study of the word bread and its individual components by analyzing dictionary definitions and the component interpretation of free associations, which results in presenting a new look at the dictionary definition of the word, testifying to pushing some values of the word bread out of the active use and filling other meanings of this word with new senses. An integrated approach to the analysis of the meaning revealed a change in the attitude of Russians to bread as a main food product.