---
title: feather — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «feather» in the school dictionary: A feather is one of the light, soft parts that cover a bird's body. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# feather

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** feather, soft parts, Feathers, birds, Light, People · **What happens:** be, cover, keep, help, fly, mean · **To what, where:** one, body, birds, 14 feathers, 3 feathers, 200 feathers

<!-- .vabout -->
«feather» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings 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: [feather in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/feather.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A feather is one of the light, soft parts that cover a bird's body.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feather:m1:1
# text = A feather is one of the light, soft parts that cover a bird's body.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	feather	feather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	cover	cover	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	's	's	PART	POS	_	14	case	_	_
16	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a feather | one |  |  |  | of the light  soft parts | tree rules |
| 2 | **cover** | present | soft parts | a bird's body |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme body=Destination |

<!-- .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 -->
Feathers keep birds warm and dry and help them fly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feather:m2:1
# text = Feathers keep birds warm and dry and help them fly.
1	Feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | Feathers | birds |  |  |  | warm *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bird=Theme |
| 2 | **help** | present | Feathers *not said here* | birds *= bird* |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent they=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **fly** | infinitive | birds *= bird* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Light as a feather» means very light.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feather:m3:1
# text = «Light as a feather» means very light.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	feather	feather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	light	light	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Light as a feather |  |  |  |  | light *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People who are alike like to spend time together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feather:m4:1
# text = People who are alike like to spend time together.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	alike	alike	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	spend	spend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	parataxis	_	_
8	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	together	together	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | People |  |  |  |  | alike *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **spend** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  | time | together *property* | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She found 14 feathers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feather:x1:1
# text = She found 14 feathers.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	14	14	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | She | 14 feathers |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feather=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each hat has 3 feathers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feather:x2:1
# text = Each hat has 3 feathers.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | each hat | 3 feathers |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feather=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pillow has 200 feathers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feather:x3:1
# text = A pillow has 200 feathers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pillow	pillow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	200	200	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a pillow | 200 feathers |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feather=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many feathers in 5 hats?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feather:x4:1
# text = How many feathers in 5 hats?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	hats	hat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The peacock has bright blue and green feathers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feather:x5:1
# text = The peacock has bright blue and green feathers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	peacock	peacock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
5	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the peacock | bright blue feathers |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feather=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Long ago people wrote with feather pens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feather:x6:1
# text = Long ago people wrote with feather pens.
1	Long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
2	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	feather	feather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	pens	pen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | people |  |  |  |  | with feather pens; ago *property* | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The box was as light as a feather.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feather:x7:1
# text = The box was as light as a feather.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	as	as	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	light	light	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	feather	feather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the box |  |  |  |  | as a feather; light *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Feathers help birds stay warm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feather:x8:1
# text = Feathers help birds stay warm.
1	Feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Feathers | birds |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent bird=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **stay** | infinitive | birds *not said here* |  |  |  |  | warm *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Birds of a feather flock together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feather:x9:1
# text = Birds of a feather flock together.
1	Birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	feather	feather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	flock	flock	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	together	together	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flock together** | infinitive | Birds of a feather |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn herd-47.5.2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=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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