---
title: buffalo — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «buffalo» in the school dictionary: A buffalo is a large wild or farmed animal of the cattle family with big curved horns, such as the African buffalo (Cape buffalo) or the water buffalo of Asia. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# buffalo

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** buffalo, People, scientists, bison, herd, Water buffalo · **What happens:** be, curve, call, say, cross, pull · **To what, where:** large wild animal, American bison, correct name, city, York State, river · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«buffalo» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [buffalo in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/buffalo.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A buffalo is a large wild or farmed animal of the cattle family with big curved horns, such as the African buffalo (Cape buffalo) or the water buffalo of Asia.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buffalo:m1:1
# text = A buffalo is a large wild or farmed animal of the cattle family with big curved horns, such as the African buffalo (Cape buffalo) or the water buffalo of Asia.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	farmed	farmed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
9	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	cattle	cattle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
16	curved	curve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	amod	_	_
17	horns	horn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
19	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	23	case	_	_
20	as	as	ADP	IN	_	19	fixed	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	African	African	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
24	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	Cape	Cape	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	26	compound	_	_
26	buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	26	punct	_	_
28	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	31	cc	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
30	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	compound	_	_
31	buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
32	of	of	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
33	Asia	Asia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	31	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a buffalo | a large wild animal |  |  |  | of the cattle family with big curved horns and the African buffalo or the water buffalo of Asia | tree rules |
| 2 | **curve** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP.material V PP.product»: agent=Material |

<!-- .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: North America — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People often call the American bison a buffalo, though scientists say bison is the correct name.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buffalo:m2:1
# text = People often call the American bison a buffalo, though scientists say bison is the correct name.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	American	American	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bison	bison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
13	bison	bison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	correct	correct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** *speech: assert* | present | People | the American bison |  |  |  | often *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent bison=Recipient |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | scientists |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | present | bison | the correct name |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Buffalo is a city in New York State, USA (a name).

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buffalo:m3:1
# text = Buffalo is a city in New York State, USA (a name).
1	Buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	flat	_	_
7	York	York	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	State	State	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Buffalo | a city |  | York State |  | USA *nmod* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A herd of buffalo crossed the river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buffalo:x1:1
# text = A herd of buffalo crossed the river.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	herd	herd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	crossed	cross	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cross** | past | a herd of buffalo | the river |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent river=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Water buffalo pull ploughs in the rice fields.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buffalo:x2:1
# text = Water buffalo pull ploughs in the rice fields.
1	Water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pull	pull	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	ploughs	plough	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	rice	rice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	fields	field	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull** | present | Water buffalo | ploughs |  | the rice fields |  |  | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plough=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Plains peoples used every part of the buffalo.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buffalo:x3:1
# text = The Plains peoples used every part of the buffalo.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Plains	Plain	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	compound	_	_
3	peoples	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the Plains peoples | every part of the buffalo |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent part=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The African buffalo is one of the Big Five animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buffalo:x4:1
# text = The African buffalo is one of the Big Five animals.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	African	African	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	Big	Big	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod:unmarked	_	_
9	Five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the African buffalo | one |  |  |  | of the Five animals | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Real mozzarella is made with buffalo milk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buffalo:x5:1
# text = Real mozzarella is made with buffalo milk.
1	Real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	mozzarella	mozzarella	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	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | Real mozzarella |  |  |  | with buffalo milk | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bison is often called a buffalo in America.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buffalo:x6:1
# text = The bison is often called a buffalo in America.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bison	bison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	often	often	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | the bison |  | America |  | often *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We ate buffalo wings at a party — it's chicken, not buffalo!

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buffalo:x7:1
# text = We ate buffalo wings at a party — it's chicken, not buffalo!
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	—	-	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	chicken	chicken	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | past | We | buffalo wings |  | a party |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wing=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | party | chicken and buffalo |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It darted into the skull of the foremost buffalo.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buffalo:x8:1
# text = It darted into the skull of the foremost buffalo.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	darted	dart	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	skull	skull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	foremost	foremost	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	buffalo	buffalo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dart** | past | It |  |  | the skull of the foremost buffalo |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into skull=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 -->

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