---
title: decode — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «decode» in the school dictionary: To decode a secret message or code is to change it back into normal words so you can understand it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# decode

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, word, Young readers, team, I, brother · **What happens:** decode, be, understand, turn, blend, use · **To what, where:** secret message, normal words, code, reading, letters, sounds

<!-- .vabout -->
«decode» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [decode in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/decode.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To decode a secret message or code is to change it back into normal words so you can understand it.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decode:m1:1
# text = To decode a secret message or code is to change it back into normal words so you can understand it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	decode	decode	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	code	code	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	change	change	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	back	back	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
13	into	into	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	normal	normal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
16	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
17	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
18	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
19	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decode** | to-infinitive |  | a secret message or code |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | normal words |  | change *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **understand** | can | you | code |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
In reading, to decode a word is to work it out by turning letters into their sounds and blending them.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decode:m2:1
# text = In reading, to decode a word is to work it out by turning letters into their sounds and blending them.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	decode	decode	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	out	out	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
13	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	turning	turn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
15	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	_
16	into	into	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	sounds	sound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	blending	blend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	conj	_	_
21	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decode** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | reading |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a word |  |  |  |  | work *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **turn** | gerund | a word *not said here* | letters |  | letters's sounds |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent letter=Theme into sound=Trajectory |
| 4 | **blend** | gerund | a word *not said here* | letters *= letter* |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To decode something is to understand a hidden meaning, like a strange look or difficult instructions.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decode:m3:1
# text = To decode something is to understand a hidden meaning, like a strange look or difficult instructions.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	decode	decode	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	understand	understand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	hidden	hidden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decode** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | understand *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In computing, to decode is to change data back into sound, pictures or text.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decode:m4:1
# text = In computing, to decode is to change data back into sound, pictures or text.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	computing	computing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	decode	decode	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	change	change	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	data	data	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
10	back	back	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
11	into	into	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	pictures	picture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decode** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | computing |  | into sound and pictures or text; change *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use the key to decode the secret message.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decode:x1:1
# text = Use the key to decode the secret message.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	key	key	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	decode	decode	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | the key |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent key=Patient |
| 2 | **decode** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the secret message |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Young readers decode words by sounding them out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decode:x2:1
# text = Young readers decode words by sounding them out.
1	Young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	readers	reader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	decode	decode	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	sounding	sound	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decode** | present | Young readers | words |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sound out** | gerund | Young readers *not said here* | words *= word* |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location they=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alan Turing's team helped decode enemy messages.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decode:x3:1
# text = Alan Turing's team helped decode enemy messages.
1	Alan	Alan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	Turing	Turing	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
4	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	decode	decode	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
7	enemy	enemy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	messages	message	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | Alan's team |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **decode** | infinitive | Alan's team *not said here* | enemy messages |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If A = 1 and B = 2, decode 3-1-20.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decode:x4:1
# text = If A = 1 and B = 2, decode 3-1-20.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	4	case	_	_
4	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
6	B	B	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	8	case	_	_
8	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
10	decode	decode	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
11	3-1-20	3-1-20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decode** | infinitive |  | B |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I could not decode my brother's messy handwriting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decode:x5:1
# text = I could not decode my brother's messy handwriting.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	decode	decode	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	handwriting	handwriting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **decode** | could | I | my brother's messy handwriting |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **handwrite** |  | my brother |  |  |  |  |  | nom handwriting «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The TV decodes the signal into pictures.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decode:x6:1
# text = The TV decodes the signal into pictures.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	decodes	decode	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	signal	signal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	pictures	picture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decode** | present | the TV | the signal |  | pictures |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you decode what Mum's look meant?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decode:x7:1
# text = Can you decode what Mum's look meant?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	decode	decode	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	3	obj	_	_
5	Mum	Mum	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
8	meant	mean	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decode** | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | participle |  | Mum's look *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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