---
title: earwax — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «earwax» in the school dictionary: Earwax is the soft yellow or brown waxy stuff that the body makes inside the ear canal. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# earwax

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Earwax, body, It, you, doctor, much earwax · **What happens:** be, make, protect, catch, keep, dry out · **To what, where:** soft yellow waxy stuff, ear canal, ear, dust, skin, dirt

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Earwax is the soft yellow or brown waxy stuff that the body makes inside the ear canal.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earwax:m1:1
# text = Earwax is the soft yellow or brown waxy stuff that the body makes inside the ear canal.
1	Earwax	earwax	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
4	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
5	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	waxy	waxy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	stuff	stuff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
14	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	canal	canal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Earwax | the soft yellow waxy stuff |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | the body | the soft yellow waxy stuff *not said here* |  | the ear canal |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset stuff=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
It protects the ear by catching dust and germs and keeping the skin from drying out.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earwax:m2:1
# text = It protects the ear by catching dust and germs and keeping the skin from drying out.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	protects	protect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	catching	catch	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	dust	dust	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	conj	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	drying	dry	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	_
16	out	out	ADP	RP	_	15	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **protect** | present | It | the ear |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ear=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **catch** | gerund |  | dust and germs |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dust=Theme |
| 3 | **keep** | gerund |  | the skin |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent skin=Theme |
| 4 | **dry out** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Earwax helps keep dirt out of your ears.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earwax:x1:1
# text = Earwax helps keep dirt out of your ears.
1	Earwax	earwax	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
4	dirt	dirt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Earwax |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **keep** | infinitive | Earwax *not said here* | dirt |  | your ears |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent dirt=Theme out ear=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never poke cotton buds into your ear to remove earwax.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earwax:x2:1
# text = Never poke cotton buds into your ear to remove earwax.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	poke	poke	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	cotton	cotton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	buds	bud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	remove	remove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	earwax	earwax	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	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* | cotton buds |  |  |  | into your ear | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.patient»: agent=Agent bud=Instrument into ear=Patient |
| 2 | **remove** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | earwax |  |  |  |  | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent earwax=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor put drops in my ear to soften the earwax.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earwax:x3:1
# text = The doctor put drops in my ear to soften the earwax.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	drops	drop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	soften	soften	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	earwax	earwax	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | past | the doctor | drops |  | my ear |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent drop=Theme in ear=Destination |
| 2 | **soften** | to-infinitive | the doctor *not said here* | the earwax |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent earwax=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Earwax can be yellow, orange or brown.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earwax:x4:1
# text = Earwax can be yellow, orange or brown.
1	Earwax	earwax	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	orange	orange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | Earwax |  |  |  |  | yellow *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Earwax *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | Earwax *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Too much earwax can make it hard to hear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earwax:x5:1
# text = Too much earwax can make it hard to hear.
1	Too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	earwax	earwax	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | can | much earwax | it |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |
| 2 | **hear** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the troll had earwax as thick as butter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earwax:x6:1
# text = In the story, the troll had earwax as thick as butter.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	troll	troll	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	earwax	earwax	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	as	as	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	butter	butter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the troll | earwax |  | the story |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent earwax=Patient |

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**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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