---
title: erosion — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «erosion» in the school dictionary: Erosion is the slow wearing away of rock, soil or land by water, wind, ice or waves. 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/erosion/)

<!-- 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/) / erosion

# erosion

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Erosion, cliff, Tree roots, Wind erosion, farmers, Lies · **What happens:** be, wear away, mean, make, fall, help · **To what, where:** slow weakening, Coastal erosion, sea, soil erosion, Grand Canyon, millions

<!-- .vabout -->
«erosion» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [erosion in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/erosion.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Erosion is the slow wearing away of rock, soil or land by water, wind, ice or waves.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erosion:m1:1
# text = Erosion is the slow wearing away of rock, soil or land by water, wind, ice or waves.
1	Erosion	erosion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	wearing	wear	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
6	away	away	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
13	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Erosion |  |  |  |  | slow *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **wear away** | gerund | Erosion *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of rock and soil or land; by water and wind and ice or waves; away *property* | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent of rock=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Erosion can mean the slow weakening or loss of something, like trust or rights.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erosion:m2:1
# text = Erosion can mean the slow weakening or loss of something, like trust or rights.
1	Erosion	erosion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	weakening	weakening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	loss	loss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	trust	trust	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	rights	right	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Erosion | the slow weakening or loss of something |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent weakening=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Coastal erosion has made the cliff fall into the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erosion:x1:1
# text = Coastal erosion has made the cliff fall into the sea.
1	Coastal	coastal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	erosion	erosion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cliff	cliff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	fall	fall	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · perfect · passive |  | Coastal erosion |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fall** | infinitive | the cliff |  |  |  |  | into the sea *result* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient into sea=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tree roots help prevent soil erosion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erosion:x2:1
# text = Tree roots help prevent soil erosion.
1	Tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	roots	root	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	prevent	prevent	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
5	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	erosion	erosion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Tree roots |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **prevent** | infinitive | Tree roots *not said here* | soil erosion |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer erosion=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Grand Canyon was made by erosion over millions of years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erosion:x3:1
# text = The Grand Canyon was made by erosion over millions of years.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Grand	Grand	PROPN	NNP	_	3	compound	_	_
3	Canyon	Canyon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	erosion	erosion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	over	over	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · passive | erosion | the Grand Canyon |  | millions of years |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset subject=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wind erosion shaped the strange rocks in the desert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erosion:x4:1
# text = Wind erosion shaped the strange rocks in the desert.
1	Wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	erosion	erosion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shaped	shape	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | past | Wind erosion | the strange rocks |  | the desert |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset rock=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmers planted hedges to stop erosion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erosion:x5:1
# text = The farmers planted hedges to stop erosion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmers	farmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	planted	plant	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	hedges	hedge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	erosion	erosion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **plant** | past | the farmers | hedges |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hedge=Patient |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive | the farmers *not said here* | erosion |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality erosion=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Erosion is slow, but it never stops.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erosion:x6:1
# text = Erosion is slow, but it never stops.
1	Erosion	erosion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Erosion |  |  |  |  | slow *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **stop** | present | Erosion |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lies caused an erosion of trust between the friends.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erosion:x7:1
# text = Lies caused an erosion of trust between the friends.
1	Lies	lie	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	erosion	erosion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	trust	trust	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	between	between	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past | Lies | a erosion of trust between the friends |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition erosion=Patient |
| 2 | **erode** |  |  | trust between the friends |  |  |  |  | nom erosion «process transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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: [eroding](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eroding/)
- next →: [err](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/err/)
- ↑ back to [E in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/)