---
title: acoustics — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «acoustics» in the school dictionary: The acoustics of a room or building are the way sound travels and is heard in it: good acoustics mean music and speech sound clear. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# acoustics

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** acoustics, sound, good acoustics, music, we, cathedral · **What happens:** be, travel, hear, mean, sound, make · **To what, where:** way, sound, science, amazing acoustics, poor acoustics, back · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«acoustics» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [acoustics in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/acoustics.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The acoustics of a room or building are the way sound travels and is heard in it: good acoustics mean music and speech sound clear.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acoustics:m1:1
# text = The acoustics of a room or building are the way sound travels and is heard in it: good acoustics mean music and speech sound clear.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	acoustics	acoustic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	travels	travel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	heard	hear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
19	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	acoustics	acoustic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
21	mean	mean	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
22	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nsubj	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	conj	_	_
25	sound	sound	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	21	ccomp	_	_
26	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the acoustics of a room or building | the way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **travel** | present | sound | the way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme way=Trajectory |
| 3 | **hear** | present · passive | sound *not said here* |  |  | sound |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus» |
| 4 | **mean** | present | good acoustics |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 5 | **sound** | present | music and speech |  |  |  |  | clear *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
Acoustics is the science of sound: how it is made, how it travels and how we hear it.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acoustics:m2:1
# text = Acoustics is the science of sound: how it is made, how it travels and how we hear it.
1	Acoustics	acoustic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
8	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	15	advmod	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	travels	travel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	parataxis	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	19	advmod	_	_
18	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	hear	hear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	conj	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Acoustics | the science |  |  |  | of sound | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present · passive |  | sound |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |
| 3 | **travel** | present | sound |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **hear** | present | we | sound |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cathedral has amazing acoustics, so the choir sounds beautiful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acoustics:x1:1
# text = The cathedral has amazing acoustics, so the choir sounds beautiful.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cathedral	cathedral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	amazing	amazing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	acoustics	acoustic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	choir	choir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
11	beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the cathedral | amazing acoustics |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent acoustic=Patient |
| 2 | **sound** | present | the choir |  |  |  |  | beautiful *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school hall has poor acoustics; it's hard to hear at the back.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acoustics:x2:1
# text = The school hall has poor acoustics; it's hard to hear at the back.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	hall	hall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	acoustics	acoustic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	at	at	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the school hall | poor acoustics |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent acoustic=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **hear** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | the back |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Acoustics is the science of sound.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acoustics:x3:1
# text = Acoustics is the science of sound.
1	Acoustics	acoustic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Acoustics | the science |  |  |  | of sound | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Soft curtains improve the acoustics of a room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acoustics:x4:1
# text = Soft curtains improve the acoustics of a room.
1	Soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	curtains	curtain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	improve	improve	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	acoustics	acoustic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **improve** | present | Soft curtains | the acoustics of a room |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent acoustic=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Sydney Opera House was designed with special attention to acoustics.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acoustics:x5:1
# text = The Sydney Opera House was designed with special attention to acoustics.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Sydney	Sydney	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	Opera	Opera	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	House	House	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	designed	design	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	acoustics	acoustic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **design** | past · passive |  | the Sydney Opera House |  |  |  | with special attention; to acoustics | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the empty gym, the acoustics made our voices echo.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acoustics:x6:1
# text = In the empty gym, the acoustics made our voices echo.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	empty	empty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	gym	gym	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	acoustics	acoustic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	voices	voice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	compound	_	_
11	echo	echo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the acoustics | our voices echo |  | the empty gym |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset echo=Product |

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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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