---
title: formic — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «formic» in the school dictionary: To do with ants. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# formic

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Formic acid, acid, Ants, Nettle stings, burning feeling, Birds · **What happens:** do, be, make, sting, cause, burn · **To what, where:** stinging acid, itchy burning feeling, formic acid, Ants, name, Latin word

<!-- .vabout -->
«formic» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 5 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: [formic in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/formic.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To do with ants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formic:m1:1
# text = To do with ants.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	ants	ant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with ants | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: chemistry — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Formic acid» is a stinging acid made by ants and stinging nettles; it causes the itchy, burning feeling of an ant bite or nettle sting.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formic:m2:1
# text = «Formic acid» is a stinging acid made by ants and stinging nettles; it causes the itchy, burning feeling of an ant bite or nettle sting.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Formic	formic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	stinging	stinging	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	ants	ant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	stinging	sting	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	amod	_	_
14	nettles	nettle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
19	itchy	itchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	burning	burn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	22	amod	_	_
22	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
23	of	of	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
24	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
25	ant	ant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	compound	_	_
26	bite	bite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nmod	_	_
27	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
28	nettle	nettle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	compound	_	_
29	sting	sting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Formic acid | a stinging acid |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a stinging acid *not said here* |  |  |  | by ants and stinging nettles | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **sting** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **cause** | present | acid | the itchy burning feeling of a ant bite or nettle sting |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition feeling=Patient |
| 5 | **burn** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ants spray formic acid to defend themselves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formic:x1:1
# text = Ants spray formic acid to defend themselves.
1	Ants	ant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spray	spray	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	formic	formic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	defend	defend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spray** | present | Ants | formic acid |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent acid=Theme |
| 2 | **defend** | to-infinitive | Ants *not said here* | Ants *= ant* |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent themselves=Beneficiary |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nettle stings contain formic acid.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formic:x2:1
# text = Nettle stings contain formic acid.
1	Nettle	nettle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	stings	sting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	contain	contain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	formic	formic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contain** | present | Nettle stings | formic acid |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot acid=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The burning feeling of an ant bite comes from formic acid.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formic:x3:1
# text = The burning feeling of an ant bite comes from formic acid.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	burning	burn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	ant	ant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	bite	bite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
8	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	formic	formic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **burn** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **come** | present | the burning feeling of a ant bite |  |  | formic acid |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from acid=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Formic acid got its name from the Latin word for ant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formic:x4:1
# text = Formic acid got its name from the Latin word for ant.
1	Formic	formic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	Latin	Latin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	ant	ant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | Formic acid | acid's name |  | the Latin word for ant |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent name=Theme from word=Source |
| 2 | **name** |  | acid |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Birds sometimes use formic acid from ants to clean their feathers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formic:x5:1
# text = Birds sometimes use formic acid from ants to clean their feathers.
1	Birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	3	advmod	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	formic	formic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	ants	ant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	clean	clean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
10	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Birds | formic acid |  | ants |  | sometimes *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent acid=Patient |
| 2 | **clean** | to-infinitive | Birds *not said here* | Birds's feathers |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent feather=Patient |

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**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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