---
title: fossilisation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fossilisation» in the school dictionary: Fossilisation is the very slow process, over thousands or millions of years, by which the remains or traces of a living thing are turned into a fossil, usually in rock. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fossilisation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Fossilisation, slow process, few dead animals, Quick burial, Shells, We · **What happens:** be, turn, change, become, fix, take · **To what, where:** slow process, remains, fossil, millions, fossilisation, Shells

<!-- .vabout -->
«fossilisation» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [fossilisation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fossilisation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fossilisation is the very slow process, over thousands or millions of years, by which the remains or traces of a living thing are turned into a fossil, usually in rock.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilisation:m1:1
# text = Fossilisation is the very slow process, over thousands or millions of years, by which the remains or traces of a living thing are turned into a fossil, usually in rock.
1	Fossilisation	fossilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	over	over	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	thousands	thousand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	appos	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
15	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	26	obl	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	remains	remains	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	26	nsubj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	traces	trace	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	_
25	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	26	aux:pass	_	_
26	turned	turn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
27	into	into	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	fossil	fossil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	33	punct	_	_
31	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	33	advmod	_	_
32	in	in	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
33	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Fossilisation | the slow process |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **turn** | present · passive | the slow process | the remains or traces of a living thing |  | a fossil |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent subject=Theme into fossil=Trajectory |

<!-- .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: figurative — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fossilisation is when ideas, habits or a language stop changing and become fixed.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilisation:m2:1
# text = Fossilisation is when ideas, habits or a language stop changing and become fixed.
1	Fossilisation	fossilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
4	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	habits	habit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
10	stop	stop	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
14	fixed	fix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Fossilisation |  |  |  |  | stop *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **change** | gerund | Fossilisation *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **become** | infinitive | Fossilisation *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **fix** | participle | Fossilisation *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fossilisation takes millions of years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilisation:x1:1
# text = Fossilisation takes millions of years.
1	Fossilisation	fossilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | Fossilisation | millions of years |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent million=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Only a few dead animals ever go through fossilisation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilisation:x2:1
# text = Only a few dead animals ever go through fossilisation.
1	Only	only	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	7	advmod	_	_
7	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	through	through	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	fossilisation	fossilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | a few dead animals |  |  | fossilisation | ever |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through fossilisation=Initial\_Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Quick burial in mud helps fossilisation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilisation:x3:1
# text = Quick burial in mud helps fossilisation.
1	Quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	burial	burial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	fossilisation	fossilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Quick burial in mud | fossilisation |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fossilisation=Beneficiary |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shells are often found because they survive fossilisation well.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilisation:x4:1
# text = Shells are often found because they survive fossilisation well.
1	Shells	shell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	survive	survive	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	fossilisation	fossilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | present · passive |  | Shells |  |  |  | often *property* | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |
| 2 | **survive** | present | Shells *= shell* | fossilisation |  |  |  | well *property* | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme fossilisation=Circumstance |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We drew a comic strip of the stages of fossilisation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilisation:x5:1
# text = We drew a comic strip of the stages of fossilisation.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	comic	comic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	strip	strip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stages	stage	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	fossilisation	fossilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | past | We | a comic strip of the stages of fossilisation |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent strip=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Teeth and bones are the parts most likely to survive fossilisation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilisation:x6:1
# text = Teeth and bones are the parts most likely to survive fossilisation.
1	Teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
7	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	8	advmod	_	_
8	likely	likely	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	survive	survive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	fossilisation	fossilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Teeth and bones | the parts |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **survive** | to-infinitive |  | fossilisation |  |  |  | likely *property* | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme fossilisation=Circumstance |

<!-- 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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