---
title: floss — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «floss» in the school dictionary: Dental floss is a thin thread used to clean between your teeth. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# floss

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Dental floss, floss, you, Candy floss, Americans, dentist · **What happens:** be, use, clean, floss, swing, make · **To what, where:** thin thread, dance, arms, side, fluffy pink sweet, floss · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«floss» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [floss in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/floss.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dental floss is a thin thread used to clean between your teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:floss:m1:1
# text = Dental floss is a thin thread used to clean between your teeth.
1	Dental	dental	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	floss	floss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	thread	thread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	clean	clean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
10	between	between	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Dental floss | a thin thread |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a thin thread *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **clean** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | between your teeth | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
To floss is to clean between your teeth with this thread.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:floss:m2:1
# text = To floss is to clean between your teeth with this thread.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	floss	floss	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	clean	clean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	between	between	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	thread	thread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **floss** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | between your teeth; with this thread; clean *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The floss is a dance where you swing your arms and hips from side to side.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:floss:m3:1
# text = The floss is a dance where you swing your arms and hips from side to side.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	floss	floss	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	dance	dance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	advmod	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	swing	swing	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	hips	hip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
13	from	from	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the floss | a dance |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **swing** | present | you | your arms and hips |  | side |  | to side *result* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.patient V NP.extent PP.source PP.goal»: agent=Patient arm=Extent from side=Initial\_State to side=Result |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Candy floss (British) is a fluffy pink sweet made of spun sugar; Americans call it cotton candy.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:floss:m4:1
# text = Candy floss (British) is a fluffy pink sweet made of spun sugar; Americans call it cotton candy.
1	Candy	candy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	floss	floss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	fluffy	fluffy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	pink	pink	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	sweet	sweet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	spun	spin	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	amod	_	_
14	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	Americans	American	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
17	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	parataxis	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	_
19	cotton	cotton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	candy	candy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Candy floss | a fluffy pink sweet |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a fluffy pink sweet *not said here* |  |  |  | of spun sugar | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **spin** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **call** | present | Americans | floss |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent it=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Floss between your teeth before bed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:floss:x1:1
# text = Floss between your teeth before bed.
1	Floss	floss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	between	between	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	bed	bed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dentist showed me how to floss gently.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:floss:x2:1
# text = The dentist showed me how to floss gently.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dentist	dentist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	floss	floss	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
8	gently	gently	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the dentist |  | me |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent i=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **floss** | to-infinitive | the dentist *not said here* |  |  |  |  | gently *property* | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I need a new box of dental floss.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:floss:x3:1
# text = I need a new box of dental floss.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	dental	dental	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	floss	floss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | I | a new box of dental floss |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot box=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flossing helps keep your gums healthy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:floss:x4:1
# text = Flossing helps keep your gums healthy.
1	Flossing	floss	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	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	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	gums	gum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	healthy	healthy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **floss** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **help** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **keep** | infinitive |  | your gums |  |  |  | healthy *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gum=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My gums bled a little when I first started to floss.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:floss:x5:1
# text = My gums bled a little when I first started to floss.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	gums	gum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	bled	bleed	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	advmod	_	_
9	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	floss	floss	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bleed** | past | My gums | a little |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |
| 2 | **start** | past | I |  |  |  |  | first *property* | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **floss** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We bought candy floss at the fair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:floss:x6:1
# text = We bought candy floss at the fair.
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	candy	candy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	floss	floss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fair	fair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everyone did the floss dance at the party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:floss:x7:1
# text = Everyone did the floss dance at the party.
1	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	2	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	floss	floss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	dance	dance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	party	party	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 | **do** | past | Everyone | the floss dance |  | the party |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dance=Eventuality |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use a fresh piece of floss for each gap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:floss:x8:1
# text = Use a fresh piece of floss for each gap.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	fresh	fresh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	floss	floss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	gap	gap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a fresh piece of floss for each gap |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent piece=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 -->

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