---
title: cull — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cull» in the school dictionary: To cull animals means to kill some of them on purpose, to keep the group small or healthy. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cull

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** cull, act, park, farmer, Many people, She · **What happens:** cull, mean, kill, keep, choose, collect · **To what, where:** animals, some, purpose, group, things, many sources · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To cull animals means to kill some of them on purpose, to keep the group small or healthy.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cull:m1:1
# text = To cull animals means to kill some of them on purpose, to keep the group small or healthy.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	cull	cull	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	kill	kill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nmod	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
17	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	xcomp	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	healthy	healthy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cull** | to-infinitive |  | animals |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent animal=Source |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **kill** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | some |  | purpose |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent some=Theme |
| 4 | **keep** | to-infinitive |  | the group |  |  |  | small *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent group=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To cull means to choose or collect things from many sources: «facts culled from books».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cull:m2:1
# text = To cull means to choose or collect things from many sources: «facts culled from books».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	cull	cull	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	collect	collect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	sources	source	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	appos	_	_
15	culled	cull	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	acl	_	_
16	from	from	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cull** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **choose** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **collect** | infinitive |  | things |  | many sources |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent thing=Theme from source=Source |
| 5 | **cull** *in a quote* | participle |  | facts *not said here* |  | books |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent from book=Source |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cull is an act of killing some animals in a group.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cull:m3:1
# text = A cull is an act of killing some animals in a group.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cull	cull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	killing	kill	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	det	_	_
9	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cull | a act |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **kill** | gerund | a act *not said here* | some animals |  | a group |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent animal=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The park plans to cull some of the deer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cull:x1:1
# text = The park plans to cull some of the deer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	plans	plan	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	cull	cull	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	deer	deer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **plan** | present | the park |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **cull** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the park *not said here* | some |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent some=Source |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmer culled the sick hens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cull:x2:1
# text = The farmer culled the sick hens.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	culled	cull	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	sick	sick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	hens	hen	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 | **cull** | past | the farmer | the sick hens |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hen=Source |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The facts were culled from old newspapers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cull:x3:1
# text = The facts were culled from old newspapers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	culled	cull	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	newspapers	newspaper	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 | **cull** | past · passive |  | the facts |  | old newspapers |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: subject=Theme from newspaper=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After a cull of 40, how many of the 300 deer are left?

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cull:x4:1
# text = After a cull of 40, how many of the 300 deer are left?
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cull	cull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	40	40	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
8	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	nsubj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	300	300	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	deer	deer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
13	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | present · passive |  | many of the 300 deer |  |  | after a cull of 40 |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many people protested against the badger cull.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cull:x5:1
# text = Many people protested against the badger cull.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	protested	protest	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	against	against	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	badger	badger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	cull	cull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **protest** *speech: disagree* | past | Many people |  |  |  |  | against the badger cull | vn rebel-71.2-2 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent against cull=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She culled the best photos for the album.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cull:x6:1
# text = She culled the best photos for the album.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	culled	cull	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	photos	photo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	album	album	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cull** | past | She | the best photos |  |  |  | for the album | vn cheat-10.6.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent photo=Source for album=Theme |

<!-- 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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