---
title: constrict — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «constrict» in the school dictionary: To make something narrower or tighter by squeezing it: «The snake constricted its prey». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# constrict

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** snake, blood vessels, Cold, someone, Tight rules, python · **What happens:** make, squeeze, constrict, get, limit, do · **To what, where:** something, it, prey, Tight rules, players, cold

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make something narrower or tighter by squeezing it: «The snake constricted its prey».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrict:m1:1
# text = To make something narrower or tighter by squeezing it: «The snake constricted its prey».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	narrower	narrow	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	tighter	tight	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	conj	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	squeezing	squeeze	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	snake	snake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	constricted	constrict	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	advcl	_	_
15	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	prey	prey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 2 | **squeeze** | gerund |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 3 | **constrict** *in a quote* | participle | the snake | snake's prey |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent prey=Patient |

<!-- .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: body — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When blood vessels, pupils of the eye or airways get narrower: «Cold makes blood vessels constrict».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrict:m2:1
# text = When blood vessels, pupils of the eye or airways get narrower: «Cold makes blood vessels constrict».
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
2	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	vessels	vessel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	eye	eye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	airways	airway	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
11	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	_	_
12	narrower	narrow	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	Cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	nsubj	_	_
16	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
17	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	vessels	vessel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj	_	_
19	constrict	constrict	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | blood vessels and pupils of the eye or airways |  |  |  |  | narrow *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **make** *in a quote* | present | Cold |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **constrict** *in a quote* | infinitive | blood vessels |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To limit what someone can do: «Tight rules constricted the players».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrict:m3:1
# text = To limit what someone can do: «Tight rules constricted the players».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	limit	limit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	6	obj	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	Tight	tight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
11	constricted	constrict	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **limit** | to-infinitive | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn limit-76 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer |
| 2 | **do** | can | someone | Tight rules |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |
| 3 | **constrict** *in a quote* | participle | Tight rules *not said here* | the players |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent player=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The python constricts its prey until it stops breathing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrict:x1:1
# text = The python constricts its prey until it stops breathing.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	python	python	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	constricts	constrict	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	prey	prey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	breathing	breathe	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **constrict** | present | the python | python's prey |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent prey=Patient |
| 2 | **stop** | present | python |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **breathe** | gerund | python *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the cold, the blood vessels in your fingers constrict.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrict:x2:1
# text = In the cold, the blood vessels in your fingers constrict.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cold	cold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	vessels	vessel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
11	constrict	constrict	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **constrict** | infinitive | the blood vessels in your fingers |  |  | the cold |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
During an asthma attack, the airways constrict, so it is hard to breathe.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrict:x3:1
# text = During an asthma attack, the airways constrict, so it is hard to breathe.
1	During	during	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	asthma	asthma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	airways	airway	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	constrict	constrict	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	expl	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	breathe	breathe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **constrict** | infinitive | the airways |  |  |  | during a asthma attack |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | the airways *not said here* |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **breathe** | to-infinitive | the airways *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His throat constricted with fear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrict:x4:1
# text = His throat constricted with fear.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	throat	throat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	constricted	constrict	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **constrict** | participle | His throat |  |  |  |  | with fear | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with fear=Instrument |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tight collar constricted her neck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrict:x5:1
# text = The tight collar constricted her neck.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tight	tight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	collar	collar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	constricted	constrict	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **constrict** | participle | the tight collar *not said here* | her neck |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent neck=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bright light makes the pupils of your eyes constrict.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrict:x6:1
# text = Bright light makes the pupils of your eyes constrict.
1	Bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	constrict	constrict	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Bright light | the pupils of your eyes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **constrict** | infinitive | the pupils of your eyes *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Too many rules can constrict creativity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrict:x7:1
# text = Too many rules can constrict creativity.
1	Too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	constrict	constrict	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	creativity	creativity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **constrict** | can | many rules | creativity |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent creativity=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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