---
title: cactus — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cactus» in the school dictionary: A cactus is a plant that grows in hot, dry places such as deserts, with a thick stem that stores water and usually sharp spines instead of leaves. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cactus

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** cactus, plant, thick stem, you, grandma, cacti · **What happens:** be, grow, store, live, not touch, have · **To what, where:** plant, hot dry places, water, desert, cactus, windowsill

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cactus is a plant that grows in hot, dry places such as deserts, with a thick stem that stores water and usually sharp spines instead of leaves.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cactus:m1:1
# text = A cactus is a plant that grows in hot, dry places such as deserts, with a thick stem that stores water and usually sharp spines instead of leaves.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cactus	cactus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
13	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	15	case	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	fixed	_	_
15	deserts	desert	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	with	with	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	stem	stem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	_
21	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	22	nsubj	_	_
22	stores	store	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	acl:relcl	_	_
23	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
25	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	27	advmod	_	_
26	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	spines	spine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	conj	_	_
28	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	30	case	_	_
29	of	of	ADP	IN	_	28	fixed	_	_
30	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cactus | a plant |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** | present | a plant |  |  | hot dry places such deserts |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in place=Location |
| 3 | **store** | present | a thick stem | water and sharp spines |  |  |  | instead leaves | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Theme |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cactus can live in the desert for a long time without rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cactus:x1:1
# text = A cactus can live in the desert for a long time without rain.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cactus	cactus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
12	without	without	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | can | a cactus |  |  | the desert | time | without rain | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in desert=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't touch the cactus; it's prickly!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cactus:x2:1
# text = Don't touch the cactus; it's prickly!
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	touch	touch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cactus	cactus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	prickly	prickly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **touch** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the cactus |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme cactus=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | cactus |  |  |  |  | prickly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My grandma has a cactus on her windowsill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cactus:x3:1
# text = My grandma has a cactus on her windowsill.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cactus	cactus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	windowsill	windowsill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | My grandma | a cactus |  | grandma's windowsill |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cactus=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some cacti have beautiful flowers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cactus:x4:1
# text = Some cacti have beautiful flowers.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	cacti	cactus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | some cacti | beautiful flowers |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flower=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cactus stores water in its thick stem.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cactus:x5:1
# text = The cactus stores water in its thick stem.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cactus	cactus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stores	store	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	stem	stem	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 | **store** | present | the cactus | water |  | cactus's thick stem |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent water=Theme in stem=Location |
| 2 | **stem** |  | cactus |  |  |  |  |  | nom stem «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Camels can eat some cactus plants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cactus:x6:1
# text = Camels can eat some cactus plants.
1	Camels	camel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
5	cactus	cactus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | can | Camels | some cactus plants |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plant=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tall saguaro cactus grows in Arizona.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cactus:x7:1
# text = The tall saguaro cactus grows in Arizona.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	saguaro	saguaro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	cactus	cactus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Arizona	Arizona	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | the tall saguaro cactus |  |  | Arizona |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in arizona=Location |

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**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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