---
title: masticate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «masticate» in the school dictionary: To masticate is to chew food so it is broken into small pieces before swallowing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# masticate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Digestion, you, cow, Molars, doctor, Cows · **What happens:** masticate, be, break, swallow, crush, knead · **To what, where:** food, small pieces, rubber, field, grass, you · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal, science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To masticate is to chew food so it is broken into small pieces before swallowing.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masticate:m1:1
# text = To masticate is to chew food so it is broken into small pieces before swallowing.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	masticate	masticate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	chew	chew	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	advcl	_	_
11	into	into	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
14	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	swallowing	swallow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **masticate** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | chew *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **break** | present · passive |  | food |  |  |  | into small pieces *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.result»: subject=Patient into piece=Result |
| 4 | **swallow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hiccup-40.1.1 «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: technical — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To masticate rubber is to soften it by crushing and kneading it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masticate:m2:1
# text = To masticate rubber is to soften it by crushing and kneading it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	masticate	masticate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	rubber	rubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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	soften	soften	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	crushing	crush	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	kneading	knead	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **masticate** | to-infinitive |  | rubber |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rubber=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | soften *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **crush** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **knead** | gerund |  | rubber |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent it=Material |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Digestion starts when you masticate your food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masticate:x1:1
# text = Digestion starts when you masticate your food.
1	Digestion	digestion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	masticate	masticate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | Digestion |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **masticate** | present | you | your food |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cow lay in the field slowly masticating grass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masticate:x2:1
# text = The cow lay in the field slowly masticating grass.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cow	cow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lay	lie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
8	masticating	masticate	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
9	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | past | the cow |  |  | the field |  | slowly *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in field=Location |
| 2 | **masticate** | gerund | the cow *not said here* | grass |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grass=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Molars help you masticate tough food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masticate:x3:1
# text = Molars help you masticate tough food.
1	Molars	molar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	masticate	masticate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	tough	tough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Molars | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **masticate** | infinitive | you *not said here* | tough food |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Masticate thoroughly,» the doctor said, meaning «chew well».

<!-- fold The tree, 8 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masticate:x4:1
# text = «Masticate thoroughly,» the doctor said, meaning «chew well».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Masticate	masticate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
3	thoroughly	thoroughly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	chew	chew	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	ccomp	_	_
13	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **masticate** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | thoroughly *property* | vn chew-39.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the doctor |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **mean** | gerund | the doctor *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **chew** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn chew-39.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cows masticate their food twice by chewing the cud.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masticate:x5:1
# text = Cows masticate their food twice by chewing the cud.
1	Cows	cow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	masticate	masticate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	2	advmod	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	chewing	chew	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cud	cud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **masticate** | present | Cows | Cows's food |  |  |  | twice *property* | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Patient |
| 2 | **chew** | gerund | Cows *not said here* | the cud |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cud=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mastication mixes food with saliva.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masticate:x6:1
# text = Mastication mixes food with saliva.
1	Mastication	mastication	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	mixes	mix	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	saliva	saliva	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mix** | present | Mastication | food |  |  |  | with saliva | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent food=Patient with saliva=Co-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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