---
title: dam — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dam» in the school dictionary: A dam is a strong wall built across a river to hold back the water, making a lake behind it called a reservoir. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dam

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** dam, Beavers, Water, We, dam burst, bonnie lassie · **What happens:** be, build, hold back, make, call, dam · **To what, where:** strong wall, river, water, lake, reservoir, wall · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«dam» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [dam in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dam.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dam is a strong wall built across a river to hold back the water, making a lake behind it called a reservoir.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dam:m1:1
# text = A dam is a strong wall built across a river to hold back the water, making a lake behind it called a reservoir.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dam	dam	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	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	across	across	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
13	back	back	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	advcl	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	lake	lake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
20	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
21	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
22	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	advcl	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	reservoir	reservoir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a dam | a strong wall |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **build** | participle |  | a strong wall *not said here* |  | a river |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 3 | **hold back** | to-infinitive |  | the water |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Theme |
| 4 | **make** | gerund |  | a lake |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset lake=Product |
| 5 | **call** | past | dam | a reservoir |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent reservoir=Recipient |

<!-- .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 -->
A dam is also a wall of sticks and mud built by beavers across a stream.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dam:m2:1
# text = A dam is also a wall of sticks and mud built by beavers across a stream.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	sticks	stick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
12	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	beavers	beaver	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
14	across	across	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	stream	stream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a dam | a wall |  |  |  | of sticks and mud | tree rules |
| 2 | **build** | participle |  | sticks and mud *not said here* |  |  |  | by beavers across a stream | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To dam a river is to build a dam across it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dam:m3:1
# text = To dam a river is to build a dam across it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	dam	dam	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	build	build	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	across	across	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dam** | to-infinitive |  | a river |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme river=Destination |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | dam |  | build *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dam is also the mother of an animal such as a horse or dog.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dam:m4:1
# text = A dam is also the mother of an animal such as a horse or dog.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	13	case	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a dam | the mother |  |  |  | of a animal such a horse or dog | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dam holds back millions of litres of water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dam:x1:1
# text = The dam holds back millions of litres of water.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	back	back	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	litres	litre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold back** | present | the dam | millions of litres of water |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent million=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Beavers build dams from sticks and mud.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dam:x2:1
# text = Beavers build dams from sticks and mud.
1	Beavers	beaver	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	build	build	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	dams	dam	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	sticks	stick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | present | Beavers | dams |  | sticks and mud |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent dam=Product from stick=Material |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Water rushing through the dam turns turbines to make electricity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dam:x3:1
# text = Water rushing through the dam turns turbines to make electricity.
1	Water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	rushing	rush	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	acl	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	turbines	turbine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
10	electricity	electricity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rush** | gerund | Water *not said here* |  |  | the dam |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through dam=Trajectory |
| 2 | **turn** | present | Water | turbines |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent turbine=Theme |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive | Water *not said here* | electricity |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset electricity=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After heavy rain, the dam was nearly full.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dam:x4:1
# text = After heavy rain, the dam was nearly full.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	nearly	nearly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the dam |  |  |  | after heavy rain | full, nearly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We dammed the little stream with stones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dam:x5:1
# text = We dammed the little stream with stones.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dammed	dam	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	stream	stream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dam** | past | We | the little stream |  |  |  | with stones | vn fill-9.8 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent stream=Destination with stone=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the dam burst and the village flooded.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dam:x6:1
# text = In the story, the dam burst and the village flooded.
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	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	burst	burst	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
11	flooded	flood	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|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 | **flood** | past | the dam burst and the village |  |  | the story |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lake behind the dam is called a reservoir.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dam:x7:1
# text = The lake behind the dam is called a reservoir.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lake	lake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	reservoir	reservoir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | the lake behind the dam |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Oh, yes, my bonnie lassie," said the mill-dam.

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dam:x8:1
# text = "Oh, yes, my bonnie lassie," said the mill-dam.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	8	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	8	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	bonnie	bonnie	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	lassie	lassie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
11	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
13	mill	mill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | my bonnie lassie | the mill dam |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent dam=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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