---
title: decoding — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «decoding» in the school dictionary: Decoding means turning a secret code or message back into normal words so it can be read. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# decoding

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Decoding, written word, changing, spies, team, We · **What happens:** mean, turn, read, sound out, work out, write · **To what, where:** secret code, normal words, Decoding, letters, reading, computing · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«decoding» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [decoding in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/decoding.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Decoding means turning a secret code or message back into normal words so it can be read.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decoding:m1:1
# text = Decoding means turning a secret code or message back into normal words so it can be read.
1	Decoding	decoding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	turning	turn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	code	code	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	back	back	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	into	into	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	normal	normal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
13	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj:pass	_	_
15	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
16	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	aux:pass	_	_
17	read	read	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Decoding |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **turn** *not said to happen* | gerund | Decoding *not said here* | a secret code or message |  | normal words |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent code=Theme into word=Trajectory |
| 3 | **read** | can · passive |  | Decoding |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |

<!-- .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, decoding is sounding out letters to work out what a written word says.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decoding:m2:1
# text = In reading, decoding is sounding out letters to work out what a written word says.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	decoding	decoding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	sounding	sound	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
11	out	out	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	16	obj	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	amod	_	_
15	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
16	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound out** | present · progressive | decoding | letters |  | reading |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location letter=Theme |
| 2 | **work out** | to-infinitive | decoding *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | a written word |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In computing, decoding means changing data from one form into one people or machines can use, like turning a file into a video.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decoding:m3:1
# text = In computing, decoding means changing data from one form into one people or machines can use, like turning a file into a video.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	computing	computing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	decoding	decoding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	17	csubj	_	_
7	data	data	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	into	into	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	machines	machine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	_
16	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
17	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
20	turning	turn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	advcl	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	file	file	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
23	into	into	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | decoding |  |  | computing |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **change** | gerund |  | data |  | one form |  | into one people or machines *result* | vn turn-26.6.1-1 «NP V NP.patient PP.material PP.result»: agent=Agent data=Patient from form=Initial\_State into people=Result |
| 3 | **use** | can | changing |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **turn** | gerund | changing *not said here* | a file |  | a video |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent file=Theme into video=Trajectory |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Decoding new words gets easier with practice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decoding:x1:1
# text = Decoding new words gets easier with practice.
1	Decoding	decode	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	easier	easy	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	xcomp	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decode** | gerund |  | new words |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | present | Decoding |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spies were decoding the secret message all night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decoding:x2:1
# text = The spies were decoding the secret message all night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spies	spy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	decoding	decode	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decode** | past · progressive | the spies | the secret message |  |  | night |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alan Turing's team worked on decoding enemy codes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decoding:x3:1
# text = Alan Turing's team worked on decoding enemy codes.
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	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	decoding	decode	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	enemy	enemy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	codes	code	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | past | Alan's team |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **decode** | gerund | Alan's team *not said here* | enemy codes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We used a key to decoding the pirate's map.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decoding:x4:1
# text = We used a key to decoding the pirate's map.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	key	key	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	decoding	decode	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pirate	pirate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	map	map	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | We | a key |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent key=Patient |
| 2 | **decode** | gerund | We *not said here* | the pirate's map |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother is good at decoding but slower at understanding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decoding:x5:1
# text = My little brother is good at decoding but slower at understanding.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	decoding	decode	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	slower	slow	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	conj	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	understanding	understanding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My little brother |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **decode** | gerund | My little brother *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | My little brother *not said here* |  |  | understanding |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The computer is decoding the video so it can play.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decoding:x6:1
# text = The computer is decoding the video so it can play.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	decoding	decode	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decode** | present · progressive | the computer | the video |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | can | computer |  |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Decoding the number puzzle took us twenty minutes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decoding:x7:1
# text = Decoding the number puzzle took us twenty minutes.
1	Decoding	decode	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	iobj	_	_
7	twenty	twenty	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decode** | gerund |  | the number puzzle |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **take** | past | Decoding |  | us |  | minute |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument we=Destination |

<!-- 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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