---
title: distortion — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «distortion» in the school dictionary: Distortion is when the shape, sound or picture of something is twisted or stretched so it looks or sounds wrong. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# distortion

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Distortion, version, facts, music distortion, funhouse mirror, water · **What happens:** be, twist, stretch, look, sound, change · **To what, where:** shape, version, facts, false idea, truth, rough buzzing sound effect · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Distortion is when the shape, sound or picture of something is twisted or stretched so it looks or sounds wrong.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distortion:m1:1
# text = Distortion is when the shape, sound or picture of something is twisted or stretched so it looks or sounds wrong.
1	Distortion	distortion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nmod	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	twisted	twist	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	parataxis	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	stretched	stretch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	conj	_	_
16	so	so	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	advcl	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	conj	_	_
21	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Distortion |  |  |  |  | when *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **twist** | present · passive |  | the shape and sound or picture of something |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **stretch** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **look** | present | Distortion |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 5 | **sound** | present | Distortion *not said here* |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=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 -->
A distortion of the truth or facts is a version that changes them so they give a false idea.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distortion:m2:1
# text = A distortion of the truth or facts is a version that changes them so they give a false idea.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	distortion	distortion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	version	version	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	so	so	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	give	give	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a distortion of the truth or facts | a version |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **change** | present | a version | facts *= fact* |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |
| 3 | **give** | present | facts *= fact* | a false idea |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Theme |
| 4 | **distort** |  |  | the truth or facts |  |  |  |  | nom distortion «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In music, distortion is a rough, buzzing sound effect used on electric guitars.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distortion:m3:1
# text = In music, distortion is a rough, buzzing sound effect used on electric guitars.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	distortion	distortion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
7	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	buzzing	buzz	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	amod	_	_
10	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	effect	effect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	acl	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	electric	electric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	guitars	guitar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buzz** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | music distortion | a rough buzzing sound effect |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **use** | participle |  | a rough buzzing sound effect *not said here* |  | electric guitars |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The funhouse mirror caused a funny distortion of our faces.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distortion:x1:1
# text = The funhouse mirror caused a funny distortion of our faces.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	funhouse	funhouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	mirror	mirror	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	distortion	distortion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	faces	face	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past | the funhouse mirror | a funny distortion of our faces |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition distortion=Patient |
| 2 | **distort** |  |  | our faces |  |  |  |  | nom distortion «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The water made a distortion so the pencil looked bent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distortion:x2:1
# text = The water made a distortion so the pencil looked bent.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	distortion	distortion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	bent	bent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the water | a distortion |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset distortion=Product |
| 2 | **look** | past | the pencil |  |  |  |  | bent *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The loud speaker gave the music a crackly distortion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distortion:x3:1
# text = The loud speaker gave the music a crackly distortion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	speaker	speaker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	crackly	crackly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	distortion	distortion	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 | **give** | past | the loud speaker | the music |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent music=Recipient distortion=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying I broke it on purpose is a distortion of what happened.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distortion:x4:1
# text = Saying I broke it on purpose is a distortion of what happened.
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	csubj	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	distortion	distortion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	12	nsubj	_	_
12	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **break** | past | I | it |  | purpose |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** | present | Saying | a distortion |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **happen** | past | a distortion |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A graph that does not start at zero can create a distortion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distortion:x5:1
# text = A graph that does not start at zero can create a distortion.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	graph	graph	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
4	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	zero	zero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	create	create	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	distortion	distortion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **start** | present · do-support | a graph |  |  | zero |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **create** | can | a graph | a distortion |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent distortion=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The guitarist turned on the distortion pedal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distortion:x6:1
# text = The guitarist turned on the distortion pedal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	guitarist	guitarist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	distortion	distortion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	pedal	pedal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | the guitarist |  |  | the distortion pedal |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme on pedal=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Heat over the road made a wobbly distortion in the air.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distortion:x7:1
# text = Heat over the road made a wobbly distortion in the air.
1	Heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	over	over	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	distortion	distortion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Heat over the road | a wobbly distortion |  | the air |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset distortion=Product |

<!-- 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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