---
title: decimetre — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «decimetre» in the school dictionary: A decimetre is a unit of length equal to 10 centimetres, or one tenth of a metre. It is written dm. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# decimetre

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** decimetre, 10 decimetres, pencil, cube, ruler, We · **What happens:** be, write, hold, use · **To what, where:** unit, decimetre, metre, 1 litre, decimetres, everyday life

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A decimetre is a unit of length equal to 10 centimetres, or one tenth of a metre. It is written dm.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A decimetre is a unit of length equal to 10 centimetres, or one tenth of a metre.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decimetre:m1:1
# text = A decimetre is a unit of length equal to 10 centimetres, or one tenth of a metre.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	decimetre	decimetre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	unit	unit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	length	length	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	equal	equal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	centimetres	centimetre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
15	tenth	tenth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	metre	metre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a decimetre | a unit or one tenth of a metre |  |  |  | of length | 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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* It is written dm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decimetre:m1:2
# text = It is written dm.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	dm	dm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | present · passive |  | decimetre |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: subject=Recipient dm=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A decimetre is 10 centimetres long.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decimetre:x1:1
# text = A decimetre is 10 centimetres long.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	decimetre	decimetre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	centimetres	centimetre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a decimetre |  |  |  |  | 10 centimetres *obl:unmarked*; long *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are 10 decimetres in a metre.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decimetre:x2:1
# text = There are 10 decimetres in a metre.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	decimetres	decimetre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	metre	metre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | 10 decimetres |  |  | a metre; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in metre=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My pencil is about 1.5 decimetres long.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decimetre:x3:1
# text = My pencil is about 1.5 decimetres long.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	about	about	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	1.5	1.5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Frac	6	nummod	_	_
6	decimetres	decimetre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My pencil |  |  |  |  | 1.5 decimetres *obl:unmarked*; long *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Convert 3 dm into centimetres: 30 cm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decimetre:x4:1
# text = Convert 3 dm into centimetres: 30 cm.
1	Convert	convert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	flat	_	_
3	dm	dm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	centimetres	centimetre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	cm	cm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cube with 1 dm sides holds exactly 1 litre.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decimetre:x5:1
# text = A cube with 1 dm sides holds exactly 1 litre.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cube	cube	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
5	dm	dm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	sides	side	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
7	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	exactly	exactly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	litre	litre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present | a cube with 1 dm sides | 1 litre |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent litre=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ruler is 3 decimetres long.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decimetre:x6:1
# text = The ruler is 3 decimetres long.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	decimetres	decimetre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the ruler |  |  |  |  | 3 decimetres *obl:unmarked*; long *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
25 cm = 2.5 dm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decimetre:x7:1
# text = 25 cm = 2.5 dm.
1	25	25	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	cm	cm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	4	case	_	_
4	2.5	2.5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	dm	dm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We rarely use decimetres in everyday life.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decimetre:x8:1
# text = We rarely use decimetres in everyday life.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	rarely	rarely	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	decimetres	decimetre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	everyday	everyday	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	life	life	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 | **use** | present | We | decimetres |  | everyday life |  | rarely *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent decimetre=Patient |

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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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