Syntagmatic relations are the relationships that a linguistic unit has with

other units in the stretch of speech in which it occurs. Syntagmatic relations define
the meaning the word possesses when it is used in combination with other words,
for example, the meaning of the verb to get can be understood from the following
contexts: He got a letter (to receive); He got tired (to become); He got to London
(to arrive); He could not get the piano through the door (to move smth. to or from
a position or place). So, syntagmatic relations are linear relations between words.

Most words come to the fore only when the word is used in certain contexts.
This is true of all polysemantic words. The adjective yellow, for example, when
used in isolation is understood to denote a certain colour, whereas other meanings
of this word, for instance, ‘envious’, ‘suspicious’ or ‘sensational’, ‘corrupt’ are
perceived only in certain contexts: a yellow look, the yellow press, etc.

Context is the minimal stretch of speech determining each individual

meaning of the word. The meaning or meanings representative of the semantic
structure of the word and least dependent on context are usually described as free
or denominative meanings. Thus, we assume that the meaning ‘a piece of
furniture’ is the denominative meaning of the word table, the meaning ‘construct,
produce’ is the free or denominative meaning of the verb make.
Paradigmatic relations are the relations that a linguistic unit has with units by
which it may be replaced. Paradigmatic relations exist between words which make
up one of the subgroups of vocabulary units: sets of synonyms, pairs of antonyms,
lexico-semantic groups, etc. Paradigmatic relations define the meaning the word
possesses through its interrelations with other members of the subgroup in
question. For instance, the meaning of the verb to get can be fully understood in
comparison with other units of the synonymic set: to obtain, to receive, to gain, to
acquire, etc.

Paradigmatic relations are associative relationships between words. The

distinction between syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations is conventionally
indicated by horizontal and vertical presentation.