---
title: activator — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «activator» in the school dictionary: An activator is something that starts something working or makes it more active. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# activator

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** activator, substance, you, glue, coach, them · **What happens:** be, start, work, make, speed up, add · **To what, where:** something, activator, substance, science, chemical change, small sensor

<!-- .vabout -->
«activator» 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: [activator in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/activator.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An activator is something that starts something working or makes it more active.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:activator:m1:1
# text = An activator is something that starts something working or makes it more active.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	activator	activator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	working	work	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	13	advmod	_	_
13	active	active	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a activator | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **start** | present |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **work** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **make** | present |  | activator |  |  |  | active *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
In science, an activator is a substance that starts or speeds up a chemical change, like the hardener in some glues.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:activator:m2:1
# text = In science, an activator is a substance that starts or speeds up a chemical change, like the hardener in some glues.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	activator	activator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	speeds	speed	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
13	up	up	ADP	RP	_	12	compound:prt	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	chemical	chemical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	like	like	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	hardener	hardener	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	appos	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	23	det	_	_
23	glues	glue	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a activator | a substance |  | science |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **start** | present | a substance |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 3 | **speed up** | present | a substance *not said here* | a chemical change |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent change=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Add the activator to the slime glue to make it thicken.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:activator:x1:1
# text = Add the activator to the slime glue to make it thicken.
1	Add	add	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	activator	activator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	slime	slime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	glue	glue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	thicken	thicken	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | the activator |  |  |  | to the slime glue | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent activator=Patient to glue=Co-Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | activator |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **thicken** | infinitive | activator *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The alarm's activator is a small sensor by the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:activator:x2:1
# text = The alarm's activator is a small sensor by the door.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alarm	alarm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	activator	activator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	sensor	sensor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the alarm's activator | a small sensor |  |  |  | by the door | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some glue needs an activator to set hard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:activator:x3:1
# text = Some glue needs an activator to set hard.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	glue	glue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	activator	activator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	set	set	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | some glue | a activator |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot activator=Theme |
| 2 | **set** | to-infinitive | some glue *not said here* | a activator *not said here* |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coach was the team's activator, always getting them moving.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:activator:x4:1
# text = The coach was the team's activator, always getting them moving.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	activator	activator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	10	advmod	_	_
10	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the coach | the team's activator |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | gerund | the coach *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  | always *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **move** | gerund | them *= they* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Read the safety label before using the activator.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:activator:x5:1
# text = Read the safety label before using the activator.
1	Read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	label	label	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	activator	activator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | imperative | you *not said here* | the safety label |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent label=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | gerund | you *not said here* | the activator |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent activator=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sunlight acts as an activator for some reactions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:activator:x6:1
# text = Sunlight acts as an activator for some reactions.
1	Sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	acts	act	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	activator	activator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	reactions	reaction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act** | present | Sunlight |  |  |  |  | as a activator; for some reactions | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent as activator=Attribute |

<!-- div src -->

**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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