---
title: adaptation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «adaptation» in the school dictionary: In science, an adaptation is a feature of a living thing (body part or behaviour) that helps it survive in its habitat, like a camel's hump or a polar bear's thick fur. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# adaptation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** adaptation, living thing, process, long eyelashes, Webbed feet, Cacti · **What happens:** be, help, survive, change, make, fit · **To what, where:** feature, science, adaptation, habitat, changed version, film

<!-- .vabout -->
«adaptation» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [adaptation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/adaptation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In science, an adaptation is a feature of a living thing (body part or behaviour) that helps it survive in its habitat, like a camel's hump or a polar bear's thick fur.

<!-- fold The tree, 34 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adaptation:m1:1
# text = In science, an adaptation is a feature of a living thing (body part or behaviour) that helps it survive in its habitat, like a camel's hump or a polar bear's thick fur.
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	adaptation	adaptation	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	feature	feature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	_
19	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
20	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
21	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	obj	_	_
22	survive	survive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	xcomp	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
25	habitat	habitat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
27	like	like	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	camel	camel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	's	's	PART	POS	_	29	case	_	_
31	hump	hump	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	parataxis	_	_
32	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	38	cc	_	_
33	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
34	polar	polar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	35	amod	_	_
35	bear	bear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	38	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	's	's	PART	POS	_	35	case	_	_
37	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	38	amod	_	_
38	fur	fur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
39	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a adaptation | a feature |  | science |  | of a living thing | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | present | a living thing | adaptation |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent it=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **survive** | infinitive | adaptation *not said here* |  |  | adaptation's habitat |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in habitat=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
An adaptation is a changed version of something, such as a film made from a book.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adaptation:m2:1
# text = An adaptation is a changed version of something, such as a film made from a book.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	adaptation	adaptation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	changed	change	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	version	version	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	13	case	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
14	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	acl	_	_
15	from	from	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a adaptation | a changed version |  |  |  | of something | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** | participle |  | a film *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Adaptation is the process of changing to fit a new situation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adaptation:m3:1
# text = Adaptation is the process of changing to fit a new situation.
1	Adaptation	adaptation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	fit	fit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Adaptation | the process |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **change** | gerund | the process *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **fit** | to-infinitive | the process *not said here* | a new situation |  |  |  |  | vn adjust-26.9 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent situation=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A camel's long eyelashes are an adaptation to sandy winds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adaptation:x1:1
# text = A camel's long eyelashes are an adaptation to sandy winds.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	camel	camel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	eyelashes	eyelash	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	adaptation	adaptation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	sandy	sandy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	winds	wind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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 | a camel's long eyelashes | a adaptation |  |  |  | to sandy winds | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Webbed feet are an adaptation for swimming.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adaptation:x2:1
# text = Webbed feet are an adaptation for swimming.
1	Webbed	web	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	amod	_	_
2	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	adaptation	adaptation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **web** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Webbed feet | a adaptation |  |  |  | for swimming | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cacti have spines instead of leaves, an adaptation that saves water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adaptation:x3:1
# text = Cacti have spines instead of leaves, an adaptation that saves water.
1	Cacti	cactus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	spines	spine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	6	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	adaptation	adaptation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	saves	save	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Cacti | spines |  |  |  | instead leaves and a adaptation | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spine=Patient |
| 2 | **save** | present | a adaptation | water |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hibernation is a behavioural adaptation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adaptation:x4:1
# text = Hibernation is a behavioural adaptation.
1	Hibernation	hibernation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	behavioural	behavioural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	adaptation	adaptation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched a film adaptation of «Charlotte's Web».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adaptation:x5:1
# text = We watched a film adaptation of «Charlotte's Web».
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	adaptation	adaptation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Charlotte	Charlotte	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	Web	web	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We | a film adaptation of Charlotte's Web |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent adaptation=Theme |
| 2 | **adapt** |  | Charlotte's Web |  |  |  |  |  | nom adaptation «communication intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The play was an adaptation of a fairy tale.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adaptation:x6:1
# text = The play was an adaptation of a fairy tale.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	adaptation	adaptation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	fairy	fairy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	tale	tale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the play | a adaptation |  |  |  | of a fairy tale | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moving to a new country took some adaptation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adaptation:x7:1
# text = Moving to a new country took some adaptation.
1	Moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	adaptation	adaptation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | gerund |  |  |  | a new country |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme to country=Trajectory |
| 2 | **take** | past | Moving | some adaptation |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent adaptation=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Russian word idol is identical with our own adaptation of +eidolou+.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adaptation:x8:1
# text = The Russian word idol is identical with our own adaptation of +eidolou+.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Russian	Russian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	idol	idol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	identical	identical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	adaptation	adaptation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	+	+	SYM	SYM	_	13	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	eidolou	eidolou	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	+	+	SYM	SYM	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the Russian word idol |  |  |  |  | with our own adaptation of eidolou; identical *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **adapt** |  | eidolou |  |  |  |  |  | nom adaptation «communication intransitive»: of=agent |

<!-- 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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