---
title: haystack — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «haystack» in the school dictionary: A haystack is a large pile or stack of dried grass (hay) kept outside on a farm to feed animals in winter. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# haystack

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** haystack, dried grass, farmer, Finding, children, Monet · **What happens:** be, dry, keep, feed, build, find · **To what, where:** large pile, farm, animals, big haystack, earring, beach

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A haystack is a large pile or stack of dried grass (hay) kept outside on a farm to feed animals in winter.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haystack:m1:1
# text = A haystack is a large pile or stack of dried grass (hay) kept outside on a farm to feed animals in winter.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	haystack	haystack	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	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	pile	pile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	stack	stack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	dried	dry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	amod	_	_
11	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
12	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	hay	hay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	_
15	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
16	outside	outside	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
17	on	on	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	farm	farm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	feed	feed	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	advcl	_	_
22	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a haystack | a large pile or stack |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dry** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **keep** | past | dried grass |  |  | a farm |  | outside *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent on farm=Location |
| 4 | **feed** | to-infinitive | dried grass *not said here* |  | animals |  | winter |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent animal=Recipient |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmer built a big haystack next to the barn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haystack:x1:1
# text = The farmer built a big haystack next to the barn.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	haystack	haystack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	next	next	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	barn	barn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | the farmer | a big haystack |  |  |  | next *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent haystack=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Finding my earring on the beach was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haystack:x2:1
# text = Finding my earring on the beach was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
1	Finding	find	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
2	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	earring	earring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	needle	needle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	haystack	haystack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | gerund |  | my earring |  | the beach |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent earring=Topic |
| 2 | **look** | past · progressive | Finding |  |  | a haystack |  | for a needle | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for needle=Theme in haystack=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The children hid behind the haystack.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haystack:x3:1
# text = The children hid behind the haystack.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	haystack	haystack	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 | **hide** | past | the children |  |  | the haystack |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent behind haystack=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Monet painted haystacks in different light.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haystack:x4:1
# text = Monet painted haystacks in different light.
1	Monet	Monet	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	painted	paint	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	haystacks	haystack	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | past | Monet | haystacks |  | different light |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.theme PP.destination»: agent=Agent haystack=Theme in light=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The horses eat the hay from the haystack in winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haystack:x5:1
# text = The horses eat the hay from the haystack in winter.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	horses	horse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	hay	hay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	haystack	haystack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | the horses | the hay |  | the haystack | winter |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hay=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Searching the internet without good words is like searching a haystack.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haystack:x6:1
# text = Searching the internet without good words is like searching a haystack.
1	Searching	search	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	internet	internet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	without	without	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	searching	search	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	haystack	haystack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **search** | gerund |  | the internet |  |  |  | without good words | vn search-35.2 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent internet=Location |
| 2 | **search** | present · progressive | Searching | a haystack |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent haystack=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ivan drove the cattle into the pastures, but he himself perched on the top of a haystack while the cattle grazed.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haystack:x7:1
# text = Ivan drove the cattle into the pastures, but he himself perched on the top of a haystack while the cattle grazed.
1	Ivan	Ivan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	drove	drive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cattle	cattle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pastures	pasture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Emp|Reflex=Yes	10	nmod:unmarked	_	_
12	perched	perch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	haystack	haystack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	_
19	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	cattle	cattle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
22	grazed	graze	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drive** | past | Ivan | the cattle |  | the pastures |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent cattle=Theme into pasture=Trajectory |
| 2 | **perch** | participle | Ivan |  |  | the top of a haystack |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on top=Location |
| 3 | **graze** | past | the cattle |  |  |  |  |  | vn dine-39.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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