---
title: eardrum — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «eardrum» in the school dictionary: A thin, tight piece of skin inside the ear that shakes (vibrates) when sound reaches it, so that we can hear. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# eardrum

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** ear, sound, we, eardrum, you, loud music · **What happens:** shake, reach, hear, make, vibrate, be · **To what, where:** vibrates, ear, eardrum, drum, anything, hearing

<!-- .vabout -->
«eardrum» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 9 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: [eardrum in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/eardrum.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A thin, tight piece of skin inside the ear that shakes (vibrates) when sound reaches it, so that we can hear.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eardrum:m1:1
# text = A thin, tight piece of skin inside the ear that shakes (vibrates) when sound reaches it, so that we can hear.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	tight	tight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	shakes	shake	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	vibrates	vibrate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	_
16	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	18	advmod	_	_
17	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
18	reaches	reach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
21	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	25	mark	_	_
22	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	21	fixed	_	_
23	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
24	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	25	aux	_	_
25	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shake** | present | the ear | vibrates |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent vibrate=Patient |
| 2 | **reach** | present | sound | ear |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 3 | **hear** | can | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sound makes your eardrum vibrate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eardrum:x1:1
# text = Sound makes your eardrum vibrate.
1	Sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	eardrum	eardrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	vibrate	vibrate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Sound | your eardrum |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **vibrate** | infinitive | your eardrum *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The eardrum is like the skin on a drum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eardrum:x2:1
# text = The eardrum is like the skin on a drum.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	eardrum	eardrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	drum	drum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the eardrum |  |  | a drum |  | like the skin | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never poke anything into your ear — you could hurt your eardrum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eardrum:x3:1
# text = Never poke anything into your ear — you could hurt your eardrum.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	poke	poke	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	eardrum	eardrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **poke** | imperative | you *not said here* | anything |  |  |  | into your ear | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.patient»: agent=Agent anything=Instrument into ear=Patient |
| 2 | **hurt** | could | you | your eardrum |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer eardrum=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very loud music can damage your hearing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eardrum:x4:1
# text = Very loud music can damage your hearing.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	damage	damage	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	hearing	hearing	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 | **damage** | can | loud music | your hearing |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hearing=Patient |
| 2 | **hear** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom hearing «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her eardrum burst when she had a bad ear infection.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eardrum:x5:1
# text = Her eardrum burst when she had a bad ear infection.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	eardrum	eardrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	burst	burst	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	infection	infection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **burst** | past | Her eardrum |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | past | eardrum | a bad ear infection |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent infection=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When a plane lands, the eardrums can feel pressure; swallowing helps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eardrum:x6:1
# text = When a plane lands, the eardrums can feel pressure; swallowing helps.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	lands	land	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	eardrums	eardrum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
10	pressure	pressure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	swallowing	swallow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	nsubj	_	_
13	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **land** | present | a plane |  |  |  |  |  | vn pocket-9.10-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **feel** | can | the eardrums | pressure |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **swallow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hiccup-40.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **help** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The eardrum passes vibrations to three tiny bones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eardrum:x7:1
# text = The eardrum passes vibrations to three tiny bones.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	eardrum	eardrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	passes	pass	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	vibrations	vibration	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
7	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** | present | the eardrum | vibrations | three tiny bones |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent vibration=Theme to bone=Recipient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wear ear defenders near very loud machines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eardrum:x8:1
# text = Wear ear defenders near very loud machines.
1	Wear	wear	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	defenders	defender	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	near	near	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	machines	machine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | imperative | you *not said here* | ear defenders |  | loud machines |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent defender=Source |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But at this the Carl burst into a roar of laughter, so that the eardrums of the warriors present almost burst inside of their heads.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eardrum:x9:1
# text = But at this the Carl burst into a roar of laughter, so that the eardrums of the warriors present almost burst inside of their heads.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Carl	Carl	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
6	burst	burst	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	roar	roar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	laughter	laughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
13	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
14	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	eardrums	eardrum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	nsubj:pass	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	warriors	warrior	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nmod	_	_
20	present	present	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
21	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	burst	burst	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
23	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
24	of	of	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	26	nmod:poss	_	_
26	heads	head	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **burst** | past |  |  |  | the Carl |  | into a roar of laughter | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at carl=Location |
| 2 | **burst** | present · passive |  | the eardrums of the warriors |  | eardrums's heads |  | almost *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **roar** |  | laughter |  |  |  |  |  | nom roar «event intransitive»: of=agent |

<!-- 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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