---
title: define — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «define» in the school dictionary: To say exactly what a word or idea means: «Can you define 'habitat'?». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# define

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** word, you, something, rules, Kindness, river · **What happens:** say, mean, define, show, be, enter · **To what, where:** habitat, limits, edges, important feature, her, word · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To say exactly what a word or idea means: «Can you define 'habitat'?».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:define:m1:1
# text = To say exactly what a word or idea means: «Can you define 'habitat'?».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	exactly	exactly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	obj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	define	define	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	ccomp	_	_
15	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	habitat	habitat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | a word or idea *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present | a word or idea |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **define** *in a quote* | can | you | habitat |  |  |  |  | vn reflexive\_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent habitat=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
To state or show clearly what something is, its limits or its nature: «The rules define who can enter».

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:define:m2:1
# text = To state or show clearly what something is, its limits or its nature: «The rules define who can enter».
1	To	to	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	show	show	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	obj	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	limits	limit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj	_	_
19	define	define	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
20	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	22	nsubj	_	_
21	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
22	enter	enter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | imperative | you *not said here* | state's limits or state's nature |  |  |  | to state | vn indicate-78-1-1 «NP V PP.recipient that S»: agent=Pivot to state=Experiencer clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** | present | something |  |  |  |  | clearly *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **define** *in a quote* | present | the rules |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V what S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **enter** *in a quote* | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make the edges or shape of something clear and sharp: «a well-defined outline».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:define:m3:1
# text = To make the edges or shape of something clear and sharp: «a well-defined outline».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	edges	edge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nmod	_	_
9	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
15	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	17	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	defined	define	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	18	amod	_	_
18	outline	outline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | the edges or shape of something |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset edge=Product |
| 2 | **define** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn reflexive\_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To be the most important feature of someone or something: «Kindness defines her».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:define:m4:1
# text = To be the most important feature of someone or something: «Kindness defines her».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
2	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	5	advmod	_	_
5	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	feature	feature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	Kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	defines	define	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
15	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | to-infinitive |  | the important feature |  |  |  | of someone | tree rules |
| 2 | **define** *in a quote* | present | Kindness | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn reflexive\_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you define the word «evaporate»?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:define:x1:1
# text = Can you define the word «evaporate»?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	define	define	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	evaporate	evaporate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **define** | can | you | the word |  |  |  |  | vn reflexive\_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Theme |
| 2 | **evaporate** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A triangle is defined as a shape with three straight sides.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:define:x2:1
# text = A triangle is defined as a shape with three straight sides.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	triangle	triangle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	defined	define	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
10	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	sides	side	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **define** | present · passive |  | a triangle |  |  |  | as a shape with three straight sides | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: subject=Theme as shape=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The river defines the border between the two countries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:define:x3:1
# text = The river defines the border between the two countries.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	defines	define	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	border	border	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	between	between	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **define** | present | the river | the border |  |  |  | between the two countries | vn reflexive\_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent border=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The photo was sharp, with every leaf clearly defined.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:define:x4:1
# text = The photo was sharp, with every leaf clearly defined.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	photo	photo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	defined	define	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the photo |  |  |  |  | with every leaf; sharp *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **define** | past | every leaf *not said here* |  |  |  |  | clearly *property* | vn reflexive\_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the program, we define a function called «jump».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:define:x5:1
# text = In the program, we define a function called «jump».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	program	program	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	define	define	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	function	function	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	jump	jump	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **define** | present | we | a function |  | the program |  |  | vn reflexive\_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent function=Theme |
| 2 | **call** *speech: assert* | participle |  | a function *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **jump** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her courage defines her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:define:x6:1
# text = Her courage defines her.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	courage	courage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	defines	define	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **define** | present | Her courage | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn reflexive\_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't let one bad test define you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:define:x7:1
# text = Don't let one bad test define you.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
5	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	define	define	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **let** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | one bad test |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **define** | infinitive | one bad test *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | vn reflexive\_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

<!-- 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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