---
title: mastication — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mastication» in the school dictionary: Chewing: crushing food with the teeth so it can be swallowed and digested. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mastication

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** process, Digestion, Mastication, Molars, teeth, Saliva · **What happens:** chew, crush, swallow, digest, start, break · **To what, where:** crushing food, food, mouth, small pieces, teeth, mastication

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chewing: crushing food with the teeth so it can be swallowed and digested.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mastication:m1:1
# text = Chewing: crushing food with the teeth so it can be swallowed and digested.
1	Chewing	chew	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
3	crushing	crush	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
4	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	swallowed	swallow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	digested	digest	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chew** | gerund |  | crushing food |  |  |  | with the teeth | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Patient |
| 2 | **crush** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **swallow** | can · passive |  | food |  |  |  |  | vn gobble-39.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 4 | **digest** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
The process of chewing as the first stage of digestion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mastication:m2:1
# text = The process of chewing as the first stage of digestion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	chewing	chew	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	_
8	stage	stage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	digestion	digestion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chew** | gerund | the process *not said here* |  |  |  |  | as the first stage of digestion | vn chew-39.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Digestion starts with mastication in the mouth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mastication:x1:1
# text = Digestion starts with mastication in the mouth.
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	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	mastication	mastication	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	mouth	mouth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | Digestion |  |  | the mouth |  | with mastication | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V PP.subeventuality»: agent=Eventuality with mastication=Subeventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mastication breaks food into small pieces.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mastication:x2:1
# text = Mastication breaks food into small pieces.
1	Mastication	mastication	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	breaks	break	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | present | Mastication | food |  |  |  | into small pieces *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent food=Patient into piece=Result |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Molars are the teeth used most for mastication.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mastication:x3:1
# text = Molars are the teeth used most for mastication.
1	Molars	molar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	5	advmod	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	mastication	mastication	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Molars | the teeth |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | past | the teeth |  |  |  |  | for mastication | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saliva mixes with the food during mastication.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mastication:x4:1
# text = Saliva mixes with the food during mastication.
1	Saliva	saliva	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	mixes	mix	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	during	during	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	mastication	mastication	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cows spend hours on mastication of grass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mastication:x5:1
# text = Cows spend hours on mastication of grass.
1	Cows	cow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spend	spend	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	mastication	mastication	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spend** | present | Cows |  |  |  | hour | on mastication of grass *goal* | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent on mastication=Goal |
| 2 | **masticate** |  |  | grass |  |  |  |  | nom mastication «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Good mastication helps the stomach do its job.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mastication:x6:1
# text = Good mastication helps the stomach do its job.
1	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	mastication	mastication	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	stomach	stomach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	xcomp	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Good mastication | the stomach |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stomach=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **job** |  | mastication |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The jaw muscles control mastication.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mastication:x7:1
# text = The jaw muscles control mastication.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	jaw	jaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	muscles	muscle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	control	control	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	mastication	mastication	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **control** | present | the jaw muscles | mastication |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mastication=Theme |

<!-- 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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