---
title: degrade — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «degrade» in the school dictionary: To make something worse in quality or condition: pollution degrades the soil. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# degrade

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pollution, plastic, you, respect, Something, person · **What happens:** make, degrade, break down, take, treat, feel · **To what, where:** something, quality, soil, smaller, hundreds, someone · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make something worse in quality or condition: pollution degrades the soil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:degrade:m1:1
# text = To make something worse in quality or condition: pollution degrades the soil.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	condition	condition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	pollution	pollution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	degrades	degrade	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | something |  | quality or condition |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 2 | **degrade** | present | pollution | the soil |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent soil=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: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To break down slowly into smaller, simpler parts: plastic takes hundreds of years to degrade.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:degrade:m2:1
# text = To break down slowly into smaller, simpler parts: plastic takes hundreds of years to degrade.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
3	down	down	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	simpler	simple	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	hundreds	hundred	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	degrade	degrade	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break down** | to-infinitive | plastic *not said here* |  |  |  |  | into smaller *result*; slowly *property* | vn break-45.1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Patient into small=Result |
| 2 | **take** | present | plastic | hundreds of years |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hundred=Theme |
| 3 | **degrade** | to-infinitive | plastic *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To treat someone without respect, making them feel worthless: it degrades people to be shouted at.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:degrade:m3:1
# text = To treat someone without respect, making them feel worthless: it degrades people to be shouted at.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	treat	treat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	without	without	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	respect	respect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	feel	feel	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	worthless	worthless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	degrades	degrade	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
16	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	aux:pass	_	_
17	shouted	shout	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	advcl	_	_
18	at	at	ADP	IN	_	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **treat** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  | someone |  |  | without respect | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient |
| 2 | **make** | gerund | you *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset they=Product |
| 3 | **feel** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | worthless *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **degrade** | present | respect | people |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent people=Patient |
| 5 | **shout** *speech: express* | to-infinitive · passive | respect *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V» |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something degrading is shameful and makes a person feel less worthy or respected.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:degrade:m4:1
# text = Something degrading is shameful and makes a person feel less worthy or respected.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nsubj	_	_
2	degrading	degrade	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	acl	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	shameful	shameful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
10	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	11	advmod	_	_
11	worthy	worthy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	respected	respected	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **degrade** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | Something |  |  |  |  | shameful *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** | present | Something *not said here* | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **feel** | infinitive | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  | worthy *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plastic bags take a very long time to degrade.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:degrade:x1:1
# text = Plastic bags take a very long time to degrade.
1	Plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	bags	bag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	degrade	degrade	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | Plastic bags |  |  |  | time |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **degrade** | to-infinitive | Plastic bags *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Banana peel degrades quickly in a compost heap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:degrade:x2:1
# text = Banana peel degrades quickly in a compost heap.
1	Banana	banana	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	peel	peel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	degrades	degrade	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	compost	compost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	heap	heap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **degrade** | present | Banana peel |  |  | a compost heap |  | quickly *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pollution has degraded the river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:degrade:x3:1
# text = Pollution has degraded the river.
1	Pollution	pollution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	degraded	degrade	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **degrade** | present · perfect | Pollution | the river |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent river=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) Habitat degradation threatens many animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:degrade:x4:1
# text = (formal) Habitat degradation threatens many animals.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Habitat	habitat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	degradation	degradation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	threatens	threaten	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **threaten** | present | formal Habitat degradation | many animals |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus animal=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is degrading to laugh at someone who is hurt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:degrade:x5:1
# text = It is degrading to laugh at someone who is hurt.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	degrading	degrade	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **degrade** | present · progressive | It |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | someone |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **hurt** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old photos degrade and fade in sunlight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:degrade:x6:1
# text = Old photos degrade and fade in sunlight.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	photos	photo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	degrade	degrade	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	fade	fade	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **degrade** | present | Old photos |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **fade** | present | Old photos *not said here* |  |  | sunlight |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“I am the son of the prime minister of a great nation, and yet see what a degrading occupation I am reduced to.”

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:degrade:x7:1
# text = “I am the son of the prime minister of a great nation, and yet see what a degrading occupation I am reduced to.”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	prime	prime	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	minister	minister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	nation	nation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	yet	yet	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	see	see	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
18	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	24	obj	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	degrading	degrade	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	21	amod	_	_
21	occupation	occupation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nsubj:pass	_	_
22	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
23	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	aux:pass	_	_
24	reduced	reduce	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	ccomp	_	_
25	to	to	ADP	IN	_	24	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | I | the son |  |  |  | of the prime minister of a great nation | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  | yet |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **degrade** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **reduce** *in a quote* | present · passive |  | a degrading occupation |  |  |  |  | vn caused\_calibratable\_cos-45.6.2 «NP V NP.patient NP.extent PP.initial\_state PP.result»: subject=Patient what=Extent |

<!-- 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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