---
title: colouration — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «colouration» in the school dictionary: Colouration is the pattern and mix of colours on an animal or plant, such as the stripes of a tiger or the spots on a ladybird. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# colouration

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Colouration, something, bright colouration, Male birds, Warning colouration, Scientists · **What happens:** be, mean, warn, stay away, match, have · **To what, where:** pattern, way, general, birds, tree bark, brighter colouration · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«colouration» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [colouration in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/colouration.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Colouration is the pattern and mix of colours on an animal or plant, such as the stripes of a tiger or the spots on a ladybird.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colouration:m1:1
# text = Colouration is the pattern and mix of colours on an animal or plant, such as the stripes of a tiger or the spots on a ladybird.
1	Colouration	colouration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	mix	mix	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	18	case	_	_
16	as	as	ADP	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	stripes	stripe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	tiger	tiger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	spots	spot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	conj	_	_
25	on	on	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	ladybird	ladybird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Colouration | the pattern and mix of colours on a animal or plant |  |  |  | such the stripes of a tiger or the spots on a ladybird | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Colouration can mean the way something is coloured in general, including a slight colour or tint.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colouration:m2:1
# text = Colouration can mean the way something is coloured in general, including a slight colour or tint.
1	Colouration	colouration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	coloured	coloured	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	including	including	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	slight	slight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	tint	tint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Colouration | the way |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | something |  |  | general |  | coloured *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The snake's bright colouration warns birds to stay away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colouration:x1:1
# text = The snake's bright colouration warns birds to stay away.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	snake	snake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	colouration	colouration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	warns	warn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
10	away	away	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **warn** *speech: warn* | present | the snake's bright colouration |  | birds |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V NP how S\_INF»: agent=Agent bird=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **stay away** | to-infinitive | the snake's bright colouration *not said here* |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The moth's colouration matches the tree bark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colouration:x2:1
# text = The moth's colouration matches the tree bark.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	moth	moth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	colouration	colouration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	matches	match	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	bark	bark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **match** | present | the moth's colouration | the tree bark |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bark=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Male birds often have brighter colouration than females.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colouration:x3:1
# text = Male birds often have brighter colouration than females.
1	Male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	brighter	bright	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	colouration	colouration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	females	female	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Male birds | brighter colouration |  |  |  | than females; often *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent colouration=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The frog's colouration changes as it grows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colouration:x4:1
# text = The frog's colouration changes as it grows.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	colouration	colouration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | present | the frog's colouration |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **grow** | present | colouration |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Warning colouration is common in poisonous animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colouration:x5:1
# text = Warning colouration is common in poisonous animals.
1	Warning	warning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	colouration	colouration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	poisonous	poisonous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Warning colouration |  |  |  |  | in poisonous animals; common *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The leaf's colouration turned red and gold in autumn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colouration:x6:1
# text = The leaf's colouration turned red and gold in autumn.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	colouration	colouration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	autumn	autumn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | the leaf's colouration |  |  |  | autumn | red *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists studied the colouration of the butterflies' wings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colouration:x7:1
# text = Scientists studied the colouration of the butterflies' wings.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	studied	study	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	colouration	colouration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	butterflies	butterfly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | past | Scientists | the colouration of the butterflies's wings |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent colouration=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fish's colouration helps it hide among the coral.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colouration:x8:1
# text = The fish's colouration helps it hide among the coral.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	colouration	colouration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	hide	hide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	among	among	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	coral	coral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | the fish's colouration | fish |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent it=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **hide** | infinitive | fish *not said here* |  |  | the coral |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent among coral=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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