---
title: fox — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fox» in the school dictionary: A fox is a wild animal of the dog family with a pointed nose, pointed ears, reddish fur and a long bushy tail. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fox

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** fox, Foxes, holes, you, Arctic foxes · **What happens:** be, point, mean, confuse, trick, run · **To what, where:** wild animal, them, garden, long bushy tail, holes, dens · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«fox» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [fox in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fox.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fox is a wild animal of the dog family with a pointed nose, pointed ears, reddish fur and a long bushy tail.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fox:m1:1
# text = A fox is a wild animal of the dog family with a pointed nose, pointed ears, reddish fur and a long bushy tail.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	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	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	pointed	pointed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	amod	_	_
17	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	reddish	reddish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	fur	fur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
23	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
24	bushy	bushy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a fox | a wild animal and reddish fur and a long bushy tail |  |  |  | of the dog family with a pointed nose and pointed ears | tree rules |
| 2 | **point** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To fox someone means to confuse or trick them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fox:m2:1
# text = To fox someone means to confuse or trick them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nsubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	confuse	confuse	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	trick	trick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | fox |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **confuse** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **trick** | infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fox ran across our garden last night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fox:x1:1
# text = A fox ran across our garden last night.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	across	across	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | a fox |  |  | our garden | night |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across garden=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox has a long bushy tail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fox:x2:1
# text = The fox has a long bushy tail.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	bushy	bushy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	tail	tail	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 | **have** | present | the fox | a long bushy tail |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tail=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Foxes live in holes called dens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fox:x3:1
# text = Foxes live in holes called dens.
1	Foxes	fox	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	holes	hole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	dens	den	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Foxes |  |  | holes |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in hole=Location |
| 2 | **call** | participle | holes *not said here* | dens |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox tricked the gingerbread man.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fox:x4:1
# text = The fox tricked the gingerbread man.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tricked	trick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	gingerbread	gingerbread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trick** | past | the fox | the gingerbread man |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent man=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mother fox is called a vixen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fox:x5:1
# text = A mother fox is called a vixen.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	vixen	vixen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | a mother fox |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep chickens safe from foxes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fox:x6:1
# text = Keep chickens safe from foxes.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	chickens	chicken	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	foxes	fox	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* |  | chickens |  |  | from foxes; safe *property* | vn forbid-64.4 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Causer chicken=Beneficiary from fox=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This puzzle has really foxed me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fox:x7:1
# text = This puzzle has really foxed me.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	really	really	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	foxed	fox	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fox** | present · perfect · passive |  | this puzzle |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP ADJ»: subject=Experiencer i=Result |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Arctic foxes turn white in winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fox:x8:1
# text = Arctic foxes turn white in winter.
1	Arctic	arctic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	foxes	fox	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turn	turn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | Arctic foxes |  |  |  | winter | white *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
For dinner the Fox served soup.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fox:x9:1
# text = For dinner the Fox served soup.
1	For	for	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	Fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	served	serve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	soup	soup	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 | **serve** | past | the Fox | soup |  |  |  | for dinner | vn fulfilling-13.4.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent soup=Theme for dinner=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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