---
title: deform — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deform» in the school dictionary: To change the normal shape of something, often by bending, squashing or stretching it: «Heat deformed the plastic». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deform

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Heat, Squeezing, ball, Rocks, plates, clay · **What happens:** change, bend, squash, stretch, deform, grow · **To what, where:** normal shape, shape, plastic, unusual shape, plastic bottle, ball · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«deform» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [deform in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/deform.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To change the normal shape of something, often by bending, squashing or stretching it: «Heat deformed the plastic».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deform:m1:1
# text = To change the normal shape of something, often by bending, squashing or stretching it: «Heat deformed the plastic».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	change	change	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	normal	normal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	often	often	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	bending	bend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	squashing	squash	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	stretching	stretch	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	Heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
20	deformed	deform	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	parataxis	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | to-infinitive |  | the normal shape of something |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shape=Patient |
| 2 | **bend** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | often *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **squash** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bump-18.4-1 «NP V together»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **stretch** | gerund |  | shape |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 5 | **deform** *in a quote* | past | Heat | the plastic |  |  |  |  | vn turn-26.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plastic=Patient |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of a body part — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To grow or be made into an unusual shape, for example by illness or injury.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deform:m2:1
# text = To grow or be made into an unusual shape, for example by illness or injury.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	grow	grow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	unusual	unusual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
13	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	injury	injury	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for example; by illness or injury | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme by illness=Location |
| 2 | **make** | infinitive · passive |  |  |  | a unusual shape |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.material PP.product»: into shape=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plastic bottle deformed in the hot car.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deform:x1:1
# text = The plastic bottle deformed in the hot car.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	plastic	plastic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bottle	bottle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	deformed	deform	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deform** | participle |  | the plastic bottle *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn turn-26.6.1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Squeezing the ball deforms it, but it springs back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deform:x2:1
# text = Squeezing the ball deforms it, but it springs back.
1	Squeezing	squeeze	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	deforms	deform	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	springs	spring	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	back	back	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squeeze** | gerund |  | the ball |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ball=Theme |
| 2 | **deform** | present | Squeezing | ball |  |  |  |  | vn turn-26.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 3 | **spring back** | present | ball |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bridge was built not to deform under heavy lorries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deform:x3:1
# text = The bridge was built not to deform under heavy lorries.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	deform	deform	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
8	under	under	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	lorries	lorry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past · passive |  | the bridge |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |
| 2 | **not** **deform** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | heavy lorries |  |  | vn turn-26.6.1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rocks deform into folds when plates push together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deform:x4:1
# text = Rocks deform into folds when plates push together.
1	Rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	deform	deform	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	into	into	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	folds	fold	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	push	push	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	together	together	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deform** | present | Rocks |  |  |  |  | into folds *result* | vn turn-26.6.1 «NP.patient V PP.result»: agent=Patient into fold=Result |
| 2 | **push together** | present | plates |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clay deforms easily when you press it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deform:x5:1
# text = The clay deforms easily when you press it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	deforms	deform	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	press	press	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|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 | **deform** | present | the clay |  |  |  |  | easily *property* | vn turn-26.6.1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **press** | present | you | clay |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Too much weight will deform the shelf.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deform:x6:1
# text = Too much weight will deform the shelf.
1	Too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	weight	weight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	deform	deform	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	shelf	shelf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deform** | future | much weight | the shelf |  |  |  |  | vn turn-26.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shelf=Patient |

<!-- 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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