---
title: holly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «holly» in the school dictionary: An evergreen bush or tree with shiny, prickly dark green leaves and bright red berries in winter. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# holly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** We, Holly leaves, Birds, leaves, sprig, They · **What happens:** use, decorate, be, eat, sing, pick · **To what, where:** branches, homes, Christmas, front door, red holly berries, carol

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An evergreen bush or tree with shiny, prickly dark green leaves and bright red berries in winter.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:holly:m1:1
# text = An evergreen bush or tree with shiny, prickly dark green leaves and bright red berries in winter.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	evergreen	evergreen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bush	bush	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
7	shiny	shiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	prickly	prickly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
10	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	berries	berry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Its branches used to decorate homes and churches at Christmas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:holly:m2:1
# text = Its branches used to decorate homes and churches at Christmas.
1	Its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	branches	branch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	decorate	decorate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	homes	home	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	churches	church	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle · passive |  | Its branches |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: subject=Theme clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **decorate** | to-infinitive |  | homes and churches |  | Christmas |  |  | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent home=Destination |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We decorated the front door with a holly wreath.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:holly:x1:1
# text = We decorated the front door with a holly wreath.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	decorated	decorate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	front	front	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	holly	holly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	wreath	wreath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decorate** | past | We | the front door |  |  |  | with a holly wreath | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent door=Destination with wreath=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Holly leaves are shiny and prickly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:holly:x2:1
# text = Holly leaves are shiny and prickly.
1	Holly	Holly	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	shiny	shiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	prickly	prickly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Holly leaves |  |  |  |  | shiny *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Holly leaves *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Birds eat the red holly berries in winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:holly:x3:1
# text = Birds eat the red holly berries in winter.
1	Birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	holly	holly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	berries	berry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	winter	winter	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 | **eat** | present | Birds | the red holly berries |  |  | winter |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent berry=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The carol «The Holly and the Ivy» is sung at Christmas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:holly:x4:1
# text = The carol «The Holly and the Ivy» is sung at Christmas.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	carol	carol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Holly	Holly	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Ivy	Ivy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	sung	sing	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | present · passive |  | the carol |  | Christmas |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be careful picking holly; the leaves are sharp.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:holly:x5:1
# text = Be careful picking holly; the leaves are sharp.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	advcl	_	_
3	picking	pick	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
4	holly	holly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | infinitive | the leaves *not said here* |  |  |  |  | careful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **pick** | gerund | the leaves *not said here* |  |  |  |  | holly *property* | vn chew-39.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | the leaves |  |  |  |  | sharp *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sprig of holly sat on top of the Christmas pudding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:holly:x6:1
# text = A sprig of holly sat on top of the Christmas pudding.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sprig	sprig	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	holly	holly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	pudding	pudding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | a sprig of holly |  |  | top of the Christmas pudding |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on top=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They sat down under a holly tree and both poured forth their woes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:holly:x7:1
# text = They sat down under a holly tree and both poured forth their woes.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	down	down	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	holly	holly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	nsubj	_	_
10	poured	pour	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
11	forth	forth	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	woes	woe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit down** | past | They |  |  | a holly tree |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent under tree=Location |
| 2 | **pour** | participle | both | their woes |  |  |  | forth *property* | vn preparing-26.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent woe=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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