---
title: epiphyte — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «epiphyte» in the school dictionary: An epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant, usually a tree, for support, but does not take food from it; it gets water and nutrients from the air, rain and bits of rubbish. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epiphyte/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [E](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/) / epiphyte

# epiphyte

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** epiphyte, plant, orchid, Epiphytes, Moss, Bromeliads · **What happens:** be, grow, not take, get, live, hold · **To what, where:** plant, food, epiphyte, water, air, tree branch

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant, usually a tree, for support, but does not take food from it; it gets water and nutrients from the air, rain and bits of rubbish.

<!-- fold The tree, 35 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiphyte:m1:1
# text = An epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant, usually a tree, for support, but does not take food from it; it gets water and nutrients from the air, rain and bits of rubbish.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	epiphyte	epiphyte	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	det	_	_
10	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
19	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
20	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
21	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	22	advmod	_	_
22	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
23	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	_
24	from	from	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	28	punct	_	_
27	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	28	nsubj	_	_
28	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
29	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	obj	_	_
30	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	31	cc	_	_
31	nutrients	nutrient	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	29	conj	_	_
32	from	from	ADP	IN	_	34	case	_	_
33	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	34	det	_	_
34	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	36	punct	_	_
36	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	34	conj	_	_
37	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	38	cc	_	_
38	bits	bit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	34	conj	_	_
39	of	of	ADP	IN	_	40	case	_	_
40	rubbish	rubbish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	38	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
41	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a epiphyte | a plant |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** | present | a plant |  |  | another plant |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on plant=Location |
| 3 | **not** **take** | present · do-support |  | food |  | epiphyte |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent food=Theme from it=Initial\_Location |
| 4 | **get** | present | epiphyte | water and nutrients |  | the air and rain and bits of rubbish |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent water=Theme from air=Source |

<!-- .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 -->
An orchid growing on a tree branch is an epiphyte.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiphyte:x1:1
# text = An orchid growing on a tree branch is an epiphyte.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	orchid	orchid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	branch	branch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	epiphyte	epiphyte	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | gerund | a orchid *not said here* |  |  | a tree branch |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on branch=Location |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a orchid | a epiphyte |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Epiphytes live high in the rainforest to get more light.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiphyte:x2:1
# text = Epiphytes live high in the rainforest to get more light.
1	Epiphytes	epiphyte	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	high	high	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rainforest	rainforest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	amod	_	_
10	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Epiphytes |  |  | the rainforest |  | high *property* | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in rainforest=Location |
| 2 | **get** | to-infinitive | Epiphytes *not said here* | more light |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer light=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moss on an oak tree is a kind of epiphyte.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiphyte:x3:1
# text = Moss on an oak tree is a kind of epiphyte.
1	Moss	moss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	oak	oak	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	epiphyte	epiphyte	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Moss on a oak tree | a kind |  |  |  | of epiphyte | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bromeliads are epiphytes that hold water in their leaves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiphyte:x4:1
# text = Bromeliads are epiphytes that hold water in their leaves.
1	Bromeliads	bromeliad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	epiphytes	epiphyte	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	hold	hold	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Bromeliads | epiphytes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hold** | present | epiphytes | water |  | Bromeliads's leaves |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent water=Theme in leaf=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An epiphyte does not steal food from its tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiphyte:x5:1
# text = An epiphyte does not steal food from its tree.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	epiphyte	epiphyte	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	steal	steal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **steal** | present · do-support | a epiphyte | food |  | epiphyte's tree |  |  | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent food=Theme from tree=Source |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tiny frogs lay eggs in pools inside epiphytes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiphyte:x6:1
# text = Tiny frogs lay eggs in pools inside epiphytes.
1	Tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lay	lay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	pools	pool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	epiphytes	epiphyte	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 | **lay** | present | Tiny frogs | eggs |  | pools |  | inside epiphytes | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent egg=Theme in pool=Destination |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [epiphany](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epiphany/)
- next →: [episcopal](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/episcopal/)
- ↑ back to [E in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/)