---
title: maw — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «maw» in the school dictionary: A maw is the mouth, jaws or throat of a hungry or fierce animal. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# maw

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** maw, Paw, crocodile, ship, black maw, boy · **What happens:** be, seem, swallow up, mean, open, sail · **To what, where:** mouth, anything, things, mum, dad, huge maw · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A maw is the mouth, jaws or throat of a hungry or fierce animal.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maw:m1:1
# text = A maw is the mouth, jaws or throat of a hungry or fierce animal.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	maw	maw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	mouth	mouth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	jaws	jaw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	throat	throat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
12	hungry	hungry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	_
15	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a maw | the mouth and jaws of a hungry animal or throat |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
A maw is anything that seems to swallow things up, like a big dark hole: «the maw of the cave».

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maw:m2:1
# text = A maw is anything that seems to swallow things up, like a big dark hole: «the maw of the cave».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	maw	maw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	swallow	swallow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
14	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	maw	maw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	appos	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	cave	cave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a maw | anything |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **seem** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 3 | **swallow up** | to-infinitive |  | things |  |  |  | like a big dark hole | vn gobble-39.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Maw» means mum or mother; «Paw» is dad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maw:m3:1
# text = «Maw» means mum or mother; «Paw» is dad.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Maw	maw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	Paw	paw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Maw | mum or mother |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mum=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Paw | dad |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crocodile opened its huge maw.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maw:x1:1
# text = The crocodile opened its huge maw.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crocodile	crocodile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	opened	open	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	maw	maw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **open** | past | the crocodile | crocodile's huge maw |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location maw=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ship sailed into the dark maw of the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maw:x2:1
# text = The ship sailed into the dark maw of the storm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sailed	sail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	maw	maw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sail** | past | the ship |  |  | the dark maw of the storm |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent into maw=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dragon's maw was full of sharp teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maw:x3:1
# text = The dragon's maw was full of sharp teeth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	maw	maw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the dragon's maw |  |  |  |  | of sharp teeth; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cave's black maw frightened the explorers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maw:x4:1
# text = The cave's black maw frightened the explorers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cave	cave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	maw	maw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	frightened	frighten	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	explorers	explorer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **frighten** | past | the cave's black maw | the explorers |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus explorer=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Maw, can I go out to play?» asked the boy in Glasgow.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maw:x5:1
# text = «Maw, can I go out to play?» asked the boy in Glasgow.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Maw	maw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	parataxis	_	_
7	out	out	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
12	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	Glasgow	Glasgow	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go out** *in a quote* | can | the boy *= boy* |  |  |  |  | out *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | the boy *= boy* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the boy |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The whale's maw swallowed the tiny fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maw:x6:1
# text = The whale's maw swallowed the tiny fish.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	maw	maw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	swallowed	swallow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swallow** | past | the whale's maw | the tiny fish |  |  |  |  | vn gobble-39.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Now, just as the father pitched his younger son into the sea, a great whale-fish was coming along and swallowed him, and into its maw he went.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maw:x7:1
# text = Now, just as the father pitched his younger son into the sea, a great whale-fish was coming along and swallowed him, and into its maw he went.
1	Now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
4	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	pitched	pitch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	younger	young	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	amod	_	_
10	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
11	into	into	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
16	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
17	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
20	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
21	coming	come	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
22	along	along	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	swallowed	swallow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	21	conj	_	_
25	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
27	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	32	cc	_	_
28	into	into	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	30	nmod:poss	_	_
30	maw	maw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	obl	_	_
31	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	32	nsubj	_	_
32	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pitch** | past | the father | father's younger son |  | the sea | now |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent son=Theme into sea=Destination |
| 2 | **come along** | past · progressive | a great whale fish |  |  |  |  | along *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **swallow** | past | a great whale fish *not said here* | fish |  |  |  |  | vn gobble-39.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Patient |
| 4 | **go** | past | fish |  |  | sea's maw |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme into maw=Initial\_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 -->

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