---
title: flea — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flea» in the school dictionary: A very small jumping insect without wings that lives on the skin and fur of animals and people and sucks their blood. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flea

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small jumping insect, people, dog, vet, flea, We · **What happens:** jump, live, suck, sell, keep, scratch · **To what, where:** skin, blood, old hand things, fleas, flea treatment, own length · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A very small jumping insect without wings that lives on the skin and fur of animals and people and sucks their blood.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flea:m1:1
# text = A very small jumping insect without wings that lives on the skin and fur of animals and people and sucks their blood.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	jumping	jump	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	without	without	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	fur	fur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	sucks	suck	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
21	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jump** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **live** | present | a small jumping insect without wings |  |  | the skin and fur of animals and people |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on skin=Location |
| 3 | **suck** | present | a small jumping insect without wings *not said here* | people's blood |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent blood=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Flea market: a market where people sell old and second-hand things cheaply.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flea:m2:1
# text = Flea market: a market where people sell old and second-hand things cheaply.
1	Flea	flea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	market	market	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	market	market	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	advmod	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	sell	sell	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
15	cheaply	cheaply	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | present | people | old hand things |  |  |  | cheaply *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our dog kept scratching because it had fleas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flea:x1:1
# text = Our dog kept scratching because it had fleas.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	scratching	scratch	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	fleas	flea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | Our dog |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **scratch** | gerund | Our dog *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **have** | past | dog | fleas |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flea=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vet gave the cat flea treatment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flea:x2:1
# text = The vet gave the cat flea treatment.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vet	vet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	flea	flea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	treatment	treatment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the vet | the flea treatment |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent treatment=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A flea can jump more than a hundred times its own length.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flea:x3:1
# text = A flea can jump more than a hundred times its own length.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flea	flea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	jump	jump	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp|ExtPos=ADV	8	advmod	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hundred	hundred	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
10	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	length	length	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jump** | can | a flea | flea's own length |  |  | time |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme length=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We bought old comics at the flea market.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flea:x4:1
# text = We bought old comics at the flea market.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	bought	buy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	comics	comic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	flea	flea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	market	market	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | past | We | old comics |  | the flea market |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent comic=Theme at market=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flea bites leave small itchy red spots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flea:x5:1
# text = Flea bites leave small itchy red spots.
1	Flea	flea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	bites	bite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	leave	leave	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
5	itchy	itchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	spots	spot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | present | Flea bites | small itchy red spots |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spot=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fleas are parasites that drink blood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flea:x6:1
# text = Fleas are parasites that drink blood.
1	Fleas	flea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	parasites	parasite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	drink	drink	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Fleas | parasites |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **drink** | present | parasites | blood |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent blood=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Long ago, fleas on rats spread a deadly disease called the plague.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flea:x7:1
# text = Long ago, fleas on rats spread a deadly disease called the plague.
1	Long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
2	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	fleas	flea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	rats	rat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	deadly	deadly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	disease	disease	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
11	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	plague	plague	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | past | fleas on rats | a deadly disease |  |  |  | ago *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location disease=Theme |
| 2 | **call** | participle | a deadly disease *not said here* | the plague |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent plague=Recipient |

<!-- 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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