---
title: dorsal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dorsal» in the school dictionary: Dorsal means on or to do with the back of an animal or the upper side of something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dorsal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Dorsal, dorsal fin, Dolphins, you, dorsal side, whales · **What happens:** mean, do, be, cut, have, curve · **To what, where:** fin, back, dorsal fin, curved dorsal fin, fish diagram, tiny dorsal fin · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dorsal means on or to do with the back of an animal or the upper side of something.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsal:m1:1
# text = Dorsal means on or to do with the back of an animal or the upper side of something.
1	Dorsal	dorsal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Dorsal |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with the back of a animal or the upper side of something | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
The dorsal fin is the fin on the back of a fish, shark, dolphin or whale.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsal:m2:1
# text = The dorsal fin is the fin on the back of a fish, shark, dolphin or whale.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	dorsal	dorsal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fin	fin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fin	fin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	shark	shark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	dolphin	dolphin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the dorsal fin | the fin |  | the back of a fish and shark and dolphin or whale |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shark's dorsal fin cut through the water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsal:x1:1
# text = The shark's dorsal fin cut through the water.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shark	shark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	dorsal	dorsal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	fin	fin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	cut	cut	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	through	through	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** | participle |  | the shark's dorsal fin *not said here* |  |  |  | through the water | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent through water=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dolphins have a curved dorsal fin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsal:x2:1
# text = Dolphins have a curved dorsal fin.
1	Dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	curved	curve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
5	dorsal	dorsal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	fin	fin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Dolphins | a curved dorsal fin |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fin=Patient |
| 2 | **curve** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP.material V PP.product»: agent=Material |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Label the dorsal fin on your fish diagram.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsal:x3:1
# text = Label the dorsal fin on your fish diagram.
1	Label	label	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	dorsal	dorsal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	fin	fin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	diagram	diagram	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **label** | imperative | you *not said here* | the dorsal fin |  | your fish diagram |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent fin=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dorsal side of a frog is green and spotty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsal:x4:1
# text = The dorsal side of a frog is green and spotty.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	dorsal	dorsal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	spotty	spotty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the dorsal side of a frog |  |  |  |  | green *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the dorsal side of a frog *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some whales have a tiny dorsal fin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsal:x5:1
# text = Some whales have a tiny dorsal fin.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	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	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	dorsal	dorsal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	fin	fin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | some whales | a tiny dorsal fin |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fin=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dorsal fin stops the fish from rolling over.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsal:x6:1
# text = The dorsal fin stops the fish from rolling over.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	dorsal	dorsal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fin	fin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	rolling	roll	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	over	over	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | present | the dorsal fin | the fish |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality fish=Eventuality |
| 2 | **roll over** | gerund | the fish *not said here* |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=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 -->

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