---
title: constrictor — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «constrictor» in the school dictionary: A snake that kills its prey by wrapping its body around it and squeezing until the animal cannot breathe, such as a boa constrictor or a python. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# constrictor

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** snake, muscle, boa constrictor, Pythons, zookeeper, us · **What happens:** kill, wrap, squeeze, not breathe, tighten, narrow · **To what, where:** prey, body, boa constrictor, part, something, constrictors

<!-- .vabout -->
«constrictor» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [constrictor in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/constrictor.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A snake that kills its prey by wrapping its body around it and squeezing until the animal cannot breathe, such as a boa constrictor or a python.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrictor:m1:1
# text = A snake that kills its prey by wrapping its body around it and squeezing until the animal cannot breathe, such as a boa constrictor or a python.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	snake	snake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	kills	kill	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	prey	prey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	wrapping	wrap	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	around	around	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	squeezing	squeeze	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	conj	_	_
15	until	until	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
18	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
20	breathe	breathe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
22	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	26	case	_	_
23	as	as	ADP	IN	_	22	fixed	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
25	boa	boa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	compound	_	_
26	constrictor	constrictor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
27	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	python	python	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	20	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kill** | present | a snake | snake's prey |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prey=Theme |
| 2 | **wrap** | gerund | a snake *not said here* | snake's body |  |  |  | around snake | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent body=Theme around it=Destination |
| 3 | **squeeze** | gerund | a snake *not said here* |  |  |  | until the animal |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **not** **breathe** | can | a snake | a boa constrictor or a python |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent constrictor=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A muscle that tightens or narrows a part of the body.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrictor:m2:1
# text = A muscle that tightens or narrows a part of the body.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	muscle	muscle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tightens	tighten	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	narrows	narrow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tighten** | present | a muscle |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **narrow** | present | a muscle *not said here* | a part of the body |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent part=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Anything that squeezes or narrows something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrictor:m3:1
# text = Anything that squeezes or narrows something.
1	Anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	squeezes	squeeze	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	narrows	narrow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squeeze** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **narrow** | present |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent something=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A boa constrictor wraps around its prey and squeezes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrictor:x1:1
# text = A boa constrictor wraps around its prey and squeezes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	boa	boa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	constrictor	constrictor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	wraps	wrap	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	around	around	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	prey	prey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	squeezes	squeeze	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wrap** | present | a boa constrictor |  |  | constrictor's prey |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme around prey=Destination |
| 2 | **squeeze** | present | a boa constrictor *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pythons are constrictors, not venomous snakes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrictor:x2:1
# text = Pythons are constrictors, not venomous snakes.
1	Pythons	python	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	constrictors	constrictor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	venomous	venomous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	snakes	snake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Pythons | constrictors and venomous snakes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The zookeeper let us touch a small constrictor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrictor:x3:1
# text = The zookeeper let us touch a small constrictor.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	zookeeper	zookeeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	touch	touch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	constrictor	constrictor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | infinitive | the zookeeper | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **touch** | infinitive | us *not said here* | a small constrictor |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme constrictor=Co-Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The constrictor swallowed the rat whole.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrictor:x4:1
# text = The constrictor swallowed the rat whole.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	constrictor	constrictor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swallowed	swallow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rat	rat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swallow** | past | the constrictor | the rat |  |  |  | whole *property* | vn gobble-39.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rat=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Constrictor muscles in your throat help you swallow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrictor:x5:1
# text = Constrictor muscles in your throat help you swallow.
1	Constrictor	constrictor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	muscles	muscle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	throat	throat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	swallow	swallow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Constrictor muscles in your throat | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **swallow** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn hiccup-40.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the jungle explorer met a huge constrictor hanging from a tree.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constrictor:x6:1
# text = In the story, the jungle explorer met a huge constrictor hanging from a tree.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	jungle	jungle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	explorer	explorer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	met	meet	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	constrictor	constrictor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
12	hanging	hang	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
13	from	from	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meet** | past | the jungle explorer | a huge constrictor |  | the story |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent constrictor=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **hang** | gerund | a huge constrictor *not said here* |  |  | a tree |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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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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