---
title: bel — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «bel» in the school dictionary: A unit for measuring how loud a sound is or comparing power levels; one bel is ten decibels. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# bel

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** unit, sound, one bel, Bel, friend, whisper · **What happens:** measure, be, compare, form, equal, name · **To what, where:** power levels, ten decibels, names, name, old stories, Sound levels · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«bel» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [bel in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bel.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A unit for measuring how loud a sound is or comparing power levels; one bel is ten decibels.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bel:m1:1
# text = A unit for measuring how loud a sound is or comparing power levels; one bel is ten decibels.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	unit	unit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	measuring	measure	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
6	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	comparing	compare	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	conj	_	_
12	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	levels	level	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
15	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	16	nummod	_	_
16	bel	bel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
18	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	19	nummod	_	_
19	decibels	decibel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **measure** | gerund | a unit and ten decibels *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | a sound |  |  |  |  | loud *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **compare** | gerund | a unit and ten decibels *not said here* | power levels |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent level=Patient |
| 4 | **is a** | present | one bel | ten decibels |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: a name — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bel, a short form of names like Isabel or Belinda.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bel:m2:1
# text = Bel, a short form of names like Isabel or Belinda.
1	Bel	Bel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Isabel	Isabel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	Belinda	Belinda	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **form** |  |  | names like Isabel or Belinda |  |  |  |  | nom form «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In old stories, Bel is the name of an ancient Babylonian god (Bible: «Bel and the Dragon»).

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bel:m3:1
# text = In old stories, Bel is the name of an ancient Babylonian god (Bible: «Bel and the Dragon»).
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Bel	Bel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
11	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
12	Babylonian	babylonian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	god	god	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	Bel	Bel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	Dragon	Dragon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Bel | the name |  | old stories |  | of a ancient Babylonian god | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One bel equals ten decibels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bel:x1:1
# text = One bel equals ten decibels.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	bel	bel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	equals	equal	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	decibels	decibel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **equal** | present | One bel | ten decibels |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sound levels are usually measured in decibels, not bels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bel:x2:1
# text = Sound levels are usually measured in decibels, not bels.
1	Sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	levels	level	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	measured	measure	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	decibels	decibel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	bels	bel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **measure** | present · passive |  | Sound levels |  | decibels and bels |  | usually *property* | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: subject=Value |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bel was named after Alexander Graham Bell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bel:x3:1
# text = The bel was named after Alexander Graham Bell.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bel	bel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	named	name	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	Alexander	Alexander	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
7	Graham	Graham	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	flat	_	_
8	Bell	Bell	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **name** | past · passive |  | the bel |  |  | after Alexander Bell |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My friend Isabel likes to be called Bel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bel:x4:1
# text = My friend Isabel likes to be called Bel.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	Isabel	Isabel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
4	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	xcomp	_	_
8	Bel	Bel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | My friend |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **call** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive · passive | My friend *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V» |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A whisper is about two bels, or twenty decibels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bel:x5:1
# text = A whisper is about two bels, or twenty decibels.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	whisper	whisper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	about	about	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	bels	bel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	twenty	twenty	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	decibels	decibel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a whisper | two bels or twenty decibels |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the Bible story, Daniel showed that the idol Bel did not really eat food.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bel:x6:1
# text = In the Bible story, Daniel showed that the idol Bel did not really eat food.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	Daniel	Daniel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	idol	idol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
11	Bel	Bel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
12	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
14	really	really	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	_
16	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | Daniel |  |  | the Bible story |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **eat** | past · do-support | the idol | food |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Patient |

<!-- 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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