---
title: cretaceous — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cretaceous» in the school dictionary: The Cretaceous is the last period of the age of dinosaurs, from about 145 to 66 million years ago. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cretaceous

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Cretaceous, Tyrannosaurus rex, asteroid strike, first flowering plants, We · **What happens:** be, mean, make, live, end, wipe out · **To what, where:** last period, Late Cretaceous period, most dinosaurs, White Cliffs, Cretaceous fossil shell, beach · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Cretaceous is the last period of the age of dinosaurs, from about 145 to 66 million years ago.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cretaceous:m1:1
# text = The Cretaceous is the last period of the age of dinosaurs, from about 145 to 66 million years ago.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Cretaceous	Cretaceous	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	period	period	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	age	age	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	dinosaurs	dinosaur	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	from	from	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	about	about	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	145	145	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	appos	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	66	66	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	15	nmod	_	_
18	million	million	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	19	nummod	_	_
19	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl:unmarked	_	_
20	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Cretaceous | the last period |  |  | of the age of dinosaurs |  | 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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cretaceous (small c) means made of chalk or like chalk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cretaceous:m2:1
# text = Cretaceous (small c) means made of chalk or like chalk.
1	Cretaceous	cretaceous	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	c	c	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	ccomp	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	like	like	INTJ	UH	_	12	discourse	_	_
12	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Cretaceous |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | of chalk or chalk | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tyrannosaurus rex lived in the Late Cretaceous period.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cretaceous:x1:1
# text = Tyrannosaurus rex lived in the Late Cretaceous period.
1	Tyrannosaurus	Tyrannosaurus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	rex	rex	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	Late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	Cretaceous	Cretaceous	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	period	period	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 | **live** | past | Tyrannosaurus rex |  |  | the Late Cretaceous period |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in period=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Cretaceous ended about 66 million years ago.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cretaceous:x2:1
# text = The Cretaceous ended about 66 million years ago.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Cretaceous	Cretaceous	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	66	66	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	compound	_	_
6	million	million	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl:unmarked	_	_
8	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | past | the Cretaceous |  |  |  |  | ago *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An asteroid strike at the end of the Cretaceous wiped out most dinosaurs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cretaceous:x3:1
# text = An asteroid strike at the end of the Cretaceous wiped out most dinosaurs.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	asteroid	asteroid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	strike	strike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Cretaceous	Cretaceous	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	wiped	wipe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	out	out	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	13	amod	_	_
13	dinosaurs	dinosaur	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wipe out** | past | a asteroid strike at the end of the Cretaceous | most dinosaurs |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent dinosaur=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The White Cliffs of Dover are made of Cretaceous chalk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cretaceous:x4:1
# text = The White Cliffs of Dover are made of Cretaceous chalk.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	White	White	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Cliffs	Cliff	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Dover	Dover	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	Cretaceous	cretaceous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | the White Cliffs of Dover |  |  |  | of Cretaceous chalk | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The first flowering plants spread during the Cretaceous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cretaceous:x5:1
# text = The first flowering plants spread during the Cretaceous.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	4	amod	_	_
3	flowering	flowering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	spread	spread	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	during	during	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Cretaceous	Cretaceous	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | present | the first flowering plants |  |  |  | during the Cretaceous |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We found a Cretaceous fossil shell on the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cretaceous:x6:1
# text = We found a Cretaceous fossil shell on the beach.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	Cretaceous	cretaceous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	fossil	fossil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | We | a Cretaceous fossil shell |  | the beach |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shell=Topic |

<!-- 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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