---
title: boa — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «boa» in the school dictionary: A large snake that kills its prey by wrapping round it and squeezing, as the boa constrictor of Central and South America does. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/boa/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [B](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/) / boa

# boa

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** large snake, boa constrictor, Boas, zoo keeper, us, She · **What happens:** kill, wrap, squeeze, do, make, wear · **To what, where:** prey, long fluffy scarf, feathers, us, boa, pink feather boa

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A large snake that kills its prey by wrapping round it and squeezing, as the boa constrictor of Central and South America does.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boa:m1:1
# text = A large snake that kills its prey by wrapping round it and squeezing, as the boa constrictor of Central and South America does.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	snake	snake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nsubj	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	kills	kill	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	prey	prey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	wrapping	wrap	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
10	round	round	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	squeezing	squeeze	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	boa	boa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	constrictor	constrictor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	Central	Central	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	South	South	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	_
23	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	flat	_	_
24	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	24	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kill** | present | a large snake | snake's prey |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prey=Theme |
| 2 | **wrap** | gerund | a large snake *not said here* |  |  |  |  | round snake | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme round it=Destination |
| 3 | **squeeze** | gerund | a large snake *not said here* |  |  |  |  | as the boa constrictor of Central and South | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **do** | present | a large snake |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: 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 -->
A long, fluffy scarf made of feathers or fur, worn round the neck for dressing up: a feather boa.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boa:m2:1
# text = A long, fluffy scarf made of feathers or fur, worn round the neck for dressing up: a feather boa.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	fluffy	fluffy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	scarf	scarf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	fur	fur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	worn	wear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
13	round	round	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
16	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
17	dressing	dress	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	advcl	_	_
18	up	up	ADP	RP	_	17	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	feather	feather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	boa	boa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | a long fluffy scarf and a feather boa *not said here* |  |  |  | of feathers or fur | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **wear** | participle |  | feathers or fur *not said here* |  |  |  | round the neck | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V PP-Conative»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **dress up** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A boa constrictor squeezes its prey.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boa:x1:1
# text = A boa constrictor squeezes its prey.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	boa	boa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	constrictor	constrictor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	squeezes	squeeze	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	prey	prey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squeeze** | present | a boa constrictor | constrictor's prey |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prey=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Boas are not venomous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boa:x2:1
# text = Boas are not venomous.
1	Boas	boa	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	venomous	venomous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | Boas |  |  |  |  | venomous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The zoo keeper let us touch a boa.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boa:x3:1
# text = The zoo keeper let us touch a boa.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	zoo	zoo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	keeper	keeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	touch	touch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	boa	boa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | infinitive | the zoo keeper | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **touch** | infinitive | us *not said here* | a boa |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme boa=Co-Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wore a pink feather boa to the party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boa:x4:1
# text = She wore a pink feather boa to the party.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wore	wear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	pink	pink	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	feather	feather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	boa	boa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | past | She | a pink feather boa |  |  |  | to the party | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent boa=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Boas give birth to live baby snakes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boa:x5:1
# text = Boas give birth to live baby snakes.
1	Boas	boa	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	give	give	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	birth	birth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	live	live	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	snakes	snake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | Boas | birth | live baby snakes |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent birth=Theme to snake=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boa wrapped itself around a branch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boa:x6:1
# text = The boa wrapped itself around a branch.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boa	boa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wrapped	wrap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	3	obj	_	_
5	around	around	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	branch	branch	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 | **wrap** | past | the boa | boa |  | a branch |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent itself=Theme around branch=Destination |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [blustering](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/blustering/)
- next →: [boar](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/boar/)
- ↑ back to [B in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/)