---
title: bray — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «bray» in the school dictionary: To make the loud, harsh noise of a donkey (hee-haw). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# bray

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** donkey, sound, We, braying laugh, man, Hee haw · **What happens:** make, noise, laugh, talk, cry out, bray · **To what, where:** loud harsh noise, loud harsh voice, loud bray, field, café, dinner · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«bray» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [bray in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bray.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make the loud, harsh noise of a donkey (hee-haw).

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bray:m1:1
# text = To make the loud, harsh noise of a donkey (hee-haw).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	harsh	harsh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	hee	hee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	haw	haw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | the loud harsh noise of a donkey |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset noise=Product |
| 2 | **noise** |  | a donkey |  |  |  |  |  | nom noise «event intransitive»: of=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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of people — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To laugh or talk loudly and unpleasantly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bray:m2:1
# text = To laugh or talk loudly and unpleasantly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	talk	talk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	loudly	loudly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	unpleasantly	unpleasantly	ADV	RB	_	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **talk** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | loudly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sound a donkey makes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bray:m3:1
# text = The sound a donkey makes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | the sound |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To cry out in a loud, harsh voice, especially in pain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bray:m4:1
# text = To cry out in a loud, harsh voice, especially in pain.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	cry	cry	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	harsh	harsh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry out** *speech: express* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | a loud harsh voice |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in voice=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The donkey brayed loudly at the gate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bray:x1:1
# text = The donkey brayed loudly at the gate.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	brayed	bray	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	loudly	loudly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	gate	gate	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 | **bray** | past | the donkey |  |  |  |  | at the gate; loudly *property* | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Agent at gate=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We heard a loud bray from the field.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bray:x2:1
# text = We heard a loud bray from the field.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	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	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	bray	bray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	field	field	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 | **hear** | past | We | a loud bray |  | the field |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent bray=Topic from field=Source |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The man's braying laugh filled the café.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bray:x3:1
# text = The man's braying laugh filled the café.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	braying	bray	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	laugh	laugh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	filled	fill	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	café	café	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 | **bray** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **fill** | past | the man's braying laugh | the café |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent café=Patient |
| 3 | **laugh** |  | the man |  |  |  |  |  | nom laugh «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hee-haw is how we write a donkey's bray.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bray:x4:1
# text = Hee-haw is how we write a donkey's bray.
1	Hee	Hee	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	haw	haw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	write	write	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	bray	bray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Hee haw |  |  |  |  | write *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **bray** |  | a donkey |  |  |  |  |  | nom bray «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The donkey brayed when it wanted its dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bray:x5:1
# text = The donkey brayed when it wanted its dinner.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	brayed	bray	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bray** | past | the donkey |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **want** | past | donkey | donkey's dinner |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot dinner=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A trumpet in the band brayed out of tune.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bray:x6:1
# text = A trumpet in the band brayed out of tune.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trumpet	trumpet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	brayed	bray	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	tune	tune	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 | **bray** | past | a trumpet in the band |  |  | tune |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pinocchio screamed with pain and as he screamed he brayed:

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bray:x7:1
# text = Pinocchio screamed with pain and as he screamed he brayed:
1	Pinocchio	Pinocchio	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	screamed	scream	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	screamed	scream	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	brayed	bray	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scream** *speech: express* | past | Pinocchio |  |  |  |  | with pain | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with pain=Theme |
| 2 | **scream** *speech: express* | past | Pinocchio |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **bray** | past | Pinocchio |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=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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