---
title: cytokine — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cytokine» in the school dictionary: A cytokine is a tiny protein that cells send out as a message, especially to control the body's immune system when fighting germs. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cytokine

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** cytokine, cells, Cytokines, you, Scientists, many cytokines · **What happens:** be, send out, control, fight, tell, go · **To what, where:** tiny protein, immune system, germs, white blood cells, flu, fever · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cytokine is a tiny protein that cells send out as a message, especially to control the body's immune system when fighting germs.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cytokine:m1:1
# text = A cytokine is a tiny protein that cells send out as a message, especially to control the body's immune system when fighting germs.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cytokine	cytokine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	protein	protein	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	obj	_	_
8	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	send	send	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	control	control	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	's	's	PART	POS	_	19	case	_	_
21	immune	immune	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
23	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	24	mark	_	_
24	fighting	fight	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	advcl	_	_
25	germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cytokine | a tiny protein |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **send out** | present | cells | a tiny protein |  |  |  | as a message | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Theme |
| 3 | **control** | to-infinitive |  | the body's immune system |  |  |  | especially *property* | vn enforce-63 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent system=Theme |
| 4 | **fight** | gerund |  | germs |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent germ=Co-Agent |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cytokines tell white blood cells where to go.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cytokine:x1:1
# text = Cytokines tell white blood cells where to go.
1	Cytokines	cytokine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tell	tell	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | Cytokines | white blood cells |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent cell=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **go** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When you have flu, cytokines help cause the fever.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cytokine:x2:1
# text = When you have flu, cytokines help cause the fever.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
4	flu	flu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
6	cytokines	cytokine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fever	fever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | you | flu |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flu=Patient |
| 2 | **help** | present | cytokines |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **cause** | infinitive | cytokines *not said here* | the fever |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition fever=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists study cytokines to make new medicines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cytokine:x3:1
# text = Scientists study cytokines to make new medicines.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	study	study	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	cytokines	cytokine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	medicines	medicine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | Scientists | cytokines |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cytokine=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* | new medicines |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset medicine=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cytokines are messages sent from one cell to another.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cytokine:x4:1
# text = Cytokines are messages sent from one cell to another.
1	Cytokines	cytokine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	messages	message	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	sent	send	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Cytokines | messages |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **send** | participle |  | messages *not said here* |  | one cell |  | to another | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Agent from cell=Initial\_Location to another=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some cytokines calm the immune system down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cytokine:x5:1
# text = Some cytokines calm the immune system down.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	cytokines	cytokine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	calm	calm	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	immune	immune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	down	down	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **calm** | present | some cytokines | the immune system |  |  |  | down *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus system=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Too many cytokines at once can make a person very ill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cytokine:x6:1
# text = Too many cytokines at once can make a person very ill.
1	Too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cytokines	cytokine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	7	advmod	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	very	very	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | can | many cytokines | a person |  |  |  | ill, once *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset person=Product |

<!-- 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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