---
title: breastbone — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «breastbone» in the school dictionary: The long flat bone in the middle of the chest, joining the ribs at the front; its scientific name is the sternum. 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/breastbone/)

<!-- 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/) / breastbone

# breastbone

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** long flat bone, scientific name, front, ribs, you, breastbone · **What happens:** join, be, name, fly, fix, press down · **To what, where:** ribs, front, sternum, same bone, breastbone, CPR

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The long flat bone in the middle of the chest, joining the ribs at the front; its scientific name is the sternum.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breastbone:m1:1
# text = The long flat bone in the middle of the chest, joining the ribs at the front; its scientific name is the sternum.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	middle	middle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	chest	chest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	joining	join	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	ribs	rib	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
15	at	at	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
19	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
20	scientific	scientific	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nsubj	_	_
22	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	cop	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	sternum	sternum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | gerund | the long flat bone in the middle of the chest and the sternum *not said here* | the ribs |  | the front |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rib=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | front's scientific name | the sternum |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **name** |  | front |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=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 same bone in a bird, where its flying muscles are fixed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breastbone:m2:1
# text = The same bone in a bird, where its flying muscles are fixed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	13	advmod	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	flying	fly	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	amod	_	_
11	muscles	muscle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	fixed	fix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **fix** | present · passive |  | the same bone in a bird |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: subject=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your ribs join your breastbone at the front.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breastbone:x1:1
# text = Your ribs join your breastbone at the front.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	ribs	rib	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	join	join	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	breastbone	breastbone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | present | Your ribs | your breastbone |  | the front |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent breastbone=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientific name for the breastbone is the sternum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breastbone:x2:1
# text = The scientific name for the breastbone is the sternum.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	scientific	scientific	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	breastbone	breastbone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	sternum	sternum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the scientific name for the breastbone | the sternum |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In CPR you press down on the lower half of the breastbone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breastbone:x3:1
# text = In CPR you press down on the lower half of the breastbone.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	CPR	cpr	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	press	press	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	down	down	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	lower	low	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	4	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	breastbone	breastbone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **press down** | present | you |  |  | CPR |  | on the lower half of the breastbone | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP-Conative»: agent=Agent on half=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bird's breastbone has a big ridge for its flight muscles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breastbone:x4:1
# text = A bird's breastbone has a big ridge for its flight muscles.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	breastbone	breastbone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	ridge	ridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	flight	flight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	muscles	muscle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a bird's breastbone | a big ridge |  |  |  | for breastbone's flight muscles | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ridge=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The heart sits just behind the breastbone, a little to the left.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breastbone:x5:1
# text = The heart sits just behind the breastbone, a little to the left.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sits	sit	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	breastbone	breastbone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	left	left	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | present | the heart |  |  | the breastbone |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent behind breastbone=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Label the breastbone on the skeleton diagram.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breastbone:x6:1
# text = Label the breastbone on the skeleton diagram.
1	Label	label	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	breastbone	breastbone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	skeleton	skeleton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	diagram	diagram	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **label** | imperative | you *not said here* | the breastbone |  | the skeleton diagram |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent breastbone=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: [breast](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breast/)
- next →: [breastplate](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breastplate/)
- ↑ back to [B in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/)