---
title: insulator — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «insulator» in the school dictionary: An insulator is a material that does not let heat pass through it easily, like wool, plastic foam or air. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# insulator

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** insulator, material, Plastic, plastic coating, Wool, We · **What happens:** be, not let, pass, flow, keep, test · **To what, where:** material, insulator, good electrical insulator, good insulator, us, best insulator

<!-- .vabout -->
«insulator» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [insulator in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/insulator.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An insulator is a material that does not let heat pass through it easily, like wool, plastic foam or air.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insulator:m1:1
# text = An insulator is a material that does not let heat pass through it easily, like wool, plastic foam or air.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	insulator	insulator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	obj	_	_
7	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	pass	pass	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	through	through	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obl	_	_
14	easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	wool	wool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	plastic	plastic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	foam	foam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	appos	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a insulator | a material |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **let** | present · do-support |  | a material |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **pass** | infinitive | a material *not said here* |  |  | insulator |  | like wool; easily *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme through it=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
An insulator is also a material that does not let electricity flow through it, like plastic, rubber, wood or glass.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insulator:m2:1
# text = An insulator is also a material that does not let electricity flow through it, like plastic, rubber, wood or glass.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	insulator	insulator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	obj	_	_
8	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	electricity	electricity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	flow	flow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	through	through	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	rubber	rubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a insulator | a material |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **let** | present · do-support |  | a material |  | insulator |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **flow** | infinitive | a material *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plastic is a good electrical insulator.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insulator:x1:1
# text = Plastic is a good electrical insulator.
1	Plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	electrical	electrical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	insulator	insulator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Plastic | a good electrical insulator |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plastic coating on the wire is an insulator.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insulator:x2:1
# text = The plastic coating on the wire is an insulator.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	plastic	plastic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	coating	coating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	wire	wire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	insulator	insulator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the plastic coating on the wire | a insulator |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wool is a good insulator, so it keeps us warm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insulator:x3:1
# text = Wool is a good insulator, so it keeps us warm.
1	Wool	wool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	insulator	insulator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Wool | a good insulator |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | present | Wool | us |  |  |  | warm *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent we=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We tested which material was the best insulator for keeping ice from melting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insulator:x4:1
# text = We tested which material was the best insulator for keeping ice from melting.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tested	test	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	4	det	_	_
4	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	8	amod	_	_
8	insulator	insulator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	_
9	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
11	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	melting	melt	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | which material | the best insulator |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **keep** | gerund | the best insulator *not said here* | ice |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ice=Theme |
| 4 | **melt** | gerund | the best insulator *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Metal is a conductor, not an insulator.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insulator:x5:1
# text = Metal is a conductor, not an insulator.
1	Metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	conductor	conductor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	insulator	insulator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Metal | a conductor and a insulator |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Air trapped in feathers is a great insulator.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insulator:x6:1
# text = Air trapped in feathers is a great insulator.
1	Air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
2	trapped	trap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
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	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	insulator	insulator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trap** | participle |  | Air *not said here* |  | feathers |  |  | vn pocket-9.10 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in feather=Destination |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Air | a great insulator |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Polar bears' thick fur and fat are insulators.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insulator:x7:1
# text = Polar bears' thick fur and fat are insulators.
1	Polar	polar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	bears	bear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	'	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	fur	fur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	fat	fat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	insulators	insulator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Polar bears | insulators |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wooden spoon handles are insulators, so they don't get hot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insulator:x8:1
# text = Wooden spoon handles are insulators, so they don't get hot.
1	Wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	spoon	spoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	handles	handle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	insulators	insulator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	parataxis	_	_
12	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Wooden spoon handles | insulators |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **get** | present · do-support | handles *= handle* |  |  |  |  | hot *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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