---
title: lam — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «lam» in the school dictionary: To be «on the lam» is to be running away and hiding, usually from the police. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lam/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [L](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/) / lam

# lam

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Lam, robber, detective, thief, escaped prisoners, Mr · **What happens:** be, run away, hide, lam, find, escape · **To what, where:** lam, police, someone, family name, thief, pirate

<!-- .vabout -->
«lam» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [lam in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lam.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: slang, US — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To be «on the lam» is to be running away and hiding, usually from the police.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lam:m1:1
# text = To be «on the lam» is to be running away and hiding, usually from the police.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
2	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lam	lam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	aux	_	_
11	running	run	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
12	away	away	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	hiding	hide	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
17	from	from	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | the lam |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **run away** | present · progressive |  |  |  | the police |  | away *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme from police=Trajectory |
| 3 | **hide** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To lam someone is to hit them hard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lam:m2:1
# text = To lam someone is to hit them hard.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	lam	lam	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	hit	hit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lam** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hard, hit *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: a name — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lam is also a family name, for example in Chinese and Vietnamese families.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lam:m3:1
# text = Lam is also a family name, for example in Chinese and Vietnamese families.
1	Lam	lam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
11	Chinese	Chinese	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	Vietnamese	Vietnamese	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	_
14	families	family	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Lam | a family name |  |  |  | for example in Chinese families | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The robber has been on the lam for three weeks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lam:x1:1
# text = The robber has been on the lam for three weeks.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	robber	robber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
4	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	7	cop	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lam	lam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	weeks	week	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present · perfect | the robber |  |  | the lam | week |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective found the thief who was on the lam.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lam:x2:1
# text = The detective found the thief who was on the lam.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	lam	lam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | the detective | the thief |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thief=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | past | the thief |  |  | the lam |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The escaped prisoners went on the lam in the hills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lam:x3:1
# text = The escaped prisoners went on the lam in the hills.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	escaped	escape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	prisoners	prisoner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lam	lam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	hills	hill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **escape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **go** | past | the escaped prisoners |  |  | the lam |  | in the hills | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme on lam=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Lam into him!» shouted the pirate in the old story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lam:x4:1
# text = «Lam into him!» shouted the pirate in the old story.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Lam	Lam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	into	into	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
7	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	pirate	pirate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | Lam into him | the pirate |  | the old story |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pirate=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mr Lam is our new maths teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lam:x5:1
# text = Mr Lam is our new maths teacher.
1	Mr	Mr	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	Lam	Lam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	compound	_	_
7	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the jewel heist, the gang went on the lam.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lam:x6:1
# text = After the jewel heist, the gang went on the lam.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	jewel	jewel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	heist	heist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	gang	gang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	lam	lam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the gang |  |  | the lam | after the jewel heist |  | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme on lam=Location |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [lakota](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lakota/)
- next →: [lama](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lama/)
- ↑ back to [L in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/)