---
title: birch — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «birch» in the school dictionary: A tall thin tree with smooth white or silver bark that peels in thin layers. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# birch

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** smooth white bark, bundle, silver birch, Native Americans, We, woods · **What happens:** peel, use, beat, have, make, collect · **To what, where:** thin layers, people, white peeling bark, canoes, birch bark, birch leaves

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tall thin tree with smooth white or silver bark that peels in thin layers.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:birch:m1:1
# text = A tall thin tree with smooth white or silver bark that peels in thin layers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	smooth	smooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
7	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	silver	silver	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	bark	bark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	peels	peel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	layers	layer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **peel** | present | smooth white bark |  |  | thin layers |  |  | vn pit-10.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
The wood of this tree: birch furniture.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:birch:m2:1
# text = The wood of this tree: birch furniture.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	birch	birch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	furniture	furniture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: old use — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bundle of birch twigs once used to beat people as punishment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:birch:m3:1
# text = A bundle of birch twigs once used to beat people as punishment.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bundle	bundle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	birch	birch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	twigs	twig	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	7	advmod	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	beat	beat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | a bundle of birch twigs |  |  |  |  | once *property* | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **beat** | to-infinitive | a bundle of birch twigs *not said here* | people |  |  |  | as punishment | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location people=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The silver birch has white peeling bark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:birch:x1:1
# text = The silver birch has white peeling bark.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	silver	silver	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	birch	birch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	peeling	peel	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	bark	bark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the silver birch | white peeling bark |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bark=Patient |
| 2 | **peel** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn pit-10.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Native Americans made canoes from birch bark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:birch:x2:1
# text = Native Americans made canoes from birch bark.
1	Native	native	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	Americans	American	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	canoes	canoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	birch	birch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	bark	bark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Native Americans | canoes |  | birch bark |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent canoe=Product from bark=Material |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We collected birch leaves for our nature table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:birch:x3:1
# text = We collected birch leaves for our nature table.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	collected	collect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	birch	birch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **collect** | past | We | birch leaves |  |  |  | for our nature table | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leaf=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The woods were full of tall birches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:birch:x4:1
# text = The woods were full of tall birches.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	woods	wood	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	birches	birch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the woods |  |  |  |  | of tall birches; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Birch wood is used for furniture and plywood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:birch:x5:1
# text = Birch wood is used for furniture and plywood.
1	Birch	birch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	furniture	furniture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	plywood	plywood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Birch wood |  |  |  | for furniture and plywood | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: subject=Theme for furniture=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In old schools children were punished with the birch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:birch:x6:1
# text = In old schools children were punished with the birch.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	schools	school	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
4	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	punished	punish	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	birch	birch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **punish** | past · passive |  | children |  | old schools |  | with the birch | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP PP.theme PP.attribute»: subject=Patient with birch=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whenever the wind blew the Birch-tree creaked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:birch:x7:1
# text = Whenever the wind blew the Birch-tree creaked.
1	Whenever	whenever	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	blew	blow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl:relcl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	Birch	birch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
9	creaked	creak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blow** | past | the wind |  |  |  |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **creak** | participle |  | the Birch tree *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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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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