---
title: meal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «meal» in the school dictionary: A meal is the food you eat at one time, such as breakfast, lunch or dinner. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# meal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** meal, you, Breakfast, We, Three meals, Dinner · **What happens:** be, eat, have, wash, try, make · **To what, where:** food, time, grain ground, rough powder, first meal, lovely meal

<!-- .vabout -->
«meal» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [meal in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/meal.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A meal is the food you eat at one time, such as breakfast, lunch or dinner.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meal:m1:1
# text = A meal is the food you eat at one time, such as breakfast, lunch or dinner.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	meal	meal	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	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	14	case	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	breakfast	breakfast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a meal | the food |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** | present | you | the food *not said here* |  |  | time |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Patient |

<!-- .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 meal is also the time when you eat this food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meal:m2:1
# text = A meal is also the time when you eat this food.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	meal	meal	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	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a meal | the time |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** | present | you | this food |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Meal (uncountable) is grain ground into a rough powder, like oatmeal or cornmeal.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meal:m3:1
# text = Meal (uncountable) is grain ground into a rough powder, like oatmeal or cornmeal.
1	Meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	uncountable	uncountable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	grain	grain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	powder	powder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	oatmeal	oatmeal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	cornmeal	cornmeal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Meal | grain ground |  | a rough powder |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Breakfast is the first meal of the day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meal:x1:1
# text = Breakfast is the first meal of the day.
1	Breakfast	breakfast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	5	amod	_	_
5	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Breakfast | the first meal |  |  | day |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had a lovely meal at Grandma's house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meal:x2:1
# text = We had a lovely meal at Grandma's house.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	lovely	lovely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We | a lovely meal |  | Grandma's house |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meal=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wash your hands before every meal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meal:x3:1
# text = Wash your hands before every meal.
1	Wash	wash	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	before	before	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | imperative | you *not said here* | your hands |  |  | before every meal |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Try to eat vegetables with every meal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meal:x4:1
# text = Try to eat vegetables with every meal.
1	Try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	vegetables	vegetable	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **eat** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | vegetables |  |  |  | with every meal | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent vegetable=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Three meals a day for a week makes twenty-one meals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meal:x5:1
# text = Three meals a day for a week makes twenty-one meals.
1	Three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	meals	meal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod:unmarked	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	twenty	twenty	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	meals	meal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Three meals  a day for a week | one meals |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset meal=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dinner is my favourite meal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meal:x6:1
# text = Dinner is my favourite meal.
1	Dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	favourite	favourite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We cooked a meal for the family together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meal:x7:1
# text = We cooked a meal for the family together.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cooked	cook	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	together	together	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cook** | past | We | a meal |  |  |  | for the family; together *property* | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent meal=Product for family=Beneficiary |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't eat lots of snacks just before a meal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meal:x8:1
# text = Don't eat lots of snacks just before a meal.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	eat	eat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	snacks	snack	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	just	just	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	before	before	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **eat** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | lots of snacks |  |  | before a meal |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Iktomi had no regular meal times.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meal:x9:1
# text = Iktomi had no regular meal times.
1	Iktomi	Iktomi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	6	det	_	_
4	regular	regular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Iktomi |  |  |  | time |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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