---
title: absorbent — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «absorbent» in the school dictionary: Absorbent describes a material that can soak up liquid, like a sponge or a paper towel. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# absorbent

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Absorbent, material, Something absorbent, sponge, We, paper · **What happens:** describe, soak up, take in, hold, let, run off · **To what, where:** material, liquid, water, absorbent, absorbent cloth, spill

<!-- .vabout -->
«absorbent» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [absorbent in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/absorbent.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Absorbent describes a material that can soak up liquid, like a sponge or a paper towel.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorbent:m1:1
# text = Absorbent describes a material that can soak up liquid, like a sponge or a paper towel.
1	Absorbent	Absorbent	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	soak	soak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	liquid	liquid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	sponge	sponge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	towel	towel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | Absorbent | a material |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent material=Theme |
| 2 | **soak up** | can | a material | liquid |  |  |  | like a sponge or a paper towel | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent liquid=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something absorbent takes in and holds water or another liquid instead of letting it run off.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorbent:m2:1
# text = Something absorbent takes in and holds water or another liquid instead of letting it run off.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	compound	_	_
2	absorbent	absorbent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	det	_	_
10	liquid	liquid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
11	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	13	mark	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	letting	let	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	run	run	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	off	off	ADP	RP	_	15	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take in** | present | Something absorbent |  |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **hold** | present | Something absorbent *not said here* | water or another liquid |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Theme |
| 3 | **let** | gerund | Something absorbent *not said here* | absorbent |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **run off** | infinitive | absorbent *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sponge is very absorbent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorbent:x1:1
# text = A sponge is very absorbent.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sponge	sponge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	absorbent	absorbent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a sponge |  |  |  |  | absorbent *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We tested which paper was the most absorbent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorbent:x2:1
# text = We tested which paper was the most absorbent.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tested	test	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	4	det	_	_
4	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	8	advmod	_	_
8	absorbent	absorbent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | which paper | the absorbent |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use an absorbent cloth to wipe up the spill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorbent:x3:1
# text = Use an absorbent cloth to wipe up the spill.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	absorbent	absorbent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	wipe	wipe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	spill	spill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a absorbent cloth |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cloth=Patient |
| 2 | **wipe up** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the spill |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent spill=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plastic is not absorbent, so water runs off it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorbent:x4:1
# text = Plastic is not absorbent, so water runs off it.
1	Plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	absorbent	absorbent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	off	off	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | Plastic |  |  |  |  | absorbent *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **run off** | present | water | Plastic |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme it=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Towels are made of absorbent cotton.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorbent:x5:1
# text = Towels are made of absorbent cotton.
1	Towels	towel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	absorbent	absorbent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cotton	cotton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | Towels |  |  |  | of absorbent cotton | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nappies have an absorbent layer inside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorbent:x6:1
# text = Nappies have an absorbent layer inside.
1	Nappies	nappy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	absorbent	absorbent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Nappies | a absorbent layer |  |  |  | inside *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent layer=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kitchen roll is more absorbent than tissue paper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorbent:x7:1
# text = Kitchen roll is more absorbent than tissue paper.
1	Kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	roll	roll	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	advmod	_	_
5	absorbent	absorbent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	tissue	tissue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Kitchen roll |  |  |  |  | than tissue paper; absorbent *property* | tree rules |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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