---
title: butch — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «butch» in the school dictionary: Looking or acting tough, strong and traditionally manly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# butch

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** word, lesbian woman, Butch, bulldog, He, Rex · **What happens:** look, act, use, dress, be, try · **To what, where:** masculine way, proud self description, nickname, famous train robber, butch name, Dad · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«butch» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 5 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: [butch in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/butch.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Looking or acting tough, strong and traditionally manly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butch:m1:1
# text = Looking or acting tough, strong and traditionally manly.
1	Looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	csubj	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	acting	act	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	tough	tough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	traditionally	traditionally	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	manly	manly	ADV	RB	_	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **act** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A word some people use for a lesbian woman who dresses or acts in a traditionally masculine way; it can be a proud self-description, but used by others it can be rude or hurtful.

<!-- fold The tree, 35 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butch:m2:1
# text = A word some people use for a lesbian woman who dresses or acts in a traditionally masculine way; it can be a proud self-description, but used by others it can be rude or hurtful.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	lesbian	lesbian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	dresses	dress	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	acts	act	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
16	traditionally	traditionally	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	masculine	masculine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	27	punct	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	27	nsubj	_	_
21	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	27	aux	_	_
22	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	27	cop	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
24	proud	proud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
25	self	self	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	description	description	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
29	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
30	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	parataxis	_	_
31	by	by	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
32	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	30	obl	_	_
33	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	36	nsubj	_	_
34	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	36	aux	_	_
35	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	36	cop	_	_
36	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	30	parataxis	_	_
37	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	38	cc	_	_
38	hurtful	hurtful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	36	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
39	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | a word |  |  |  |  | for a lesbian woman | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **dress** | present | a lesbian woman |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **act** | present | a lesbian woman *not said here* |  |  | a masculine way |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is a** | can | word | a proud self description |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by others | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **is** | can | word |  |  |  |  | rude *property* | tree rules |
| 7 | **be** |  | word *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Butch is also a nickname, as in the cowboy Butch Cassidy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butch:m3:1
# text = Butch is also a nickname, as in the cowboy Butch Cassidy.
1	Butch	butch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	nickname	nickname	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	cowboy	cowboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
11	Butch	Butch	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
12	Cassidy	Cassidy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Butch | a nickname and the cowboy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That bulldog looks very butch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butch:x1:1
# text = That bulldog looks very butch.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	bulldog	bulldog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	butch	butch	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | that bulldog |  |  |  |  | butch *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He tried to look butch in his leather jacket.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butch:x2:1
# text = He tried to look butch in his leather jacket.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	butch	butch	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	leather	leather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	jacket	jacket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **look** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | butch *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Butch Cassidy was a famous train robber.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butch:x3:1
# text = Butch Cassidy was a famous train robber.
1	Butch	butch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	Cassidy	Cassidy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	robber	robber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Butch | a famous train robber |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Rex is a butch name for a puppy," laughed Dad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butch:x4:1
# text = "Rex is a butch name for a puppy," laughed Dad.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Rex	Rex	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	butch	butch	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	parataxis	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	_
12	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | Rex | a butch name |  |  |  | for a puppy | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | past |  | Dad |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't call people names to tease them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butch:x5:1
# text = Don't call people names to tease them.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	call	call	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	tease	tease	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **call** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | people |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent people=Theme name=Result |
| 2 | **tease** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | names *= name* |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |

<!-- 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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