---
title: melanin — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «melanin» in the school dictionary: Melanin is the natural dark substance in skin, hair and eyes that gives them their colour. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# melanin

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Melanin, that, sun, Freckles, Skin, you · **What happens:** be, give, help, protect, ray, make · **To what, where:** natural dark substance, skin, colour, eyes, spots, more melanin

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Melanin is the natural dark substance in skin, hair and eyes that gives them their colour.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:melanin:m1:1
# text = Melanin is the natural dark substance in skin, hair and eyes that gives them their colour.
1	Melanin	melanin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
15	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	iobj	_	_
16	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Melanin | the natural dark substance |  | skin |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | present | that | eyes's colour | eyes *= eye* |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent they=Recipient colour=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Melanin helps protect skin from the sun's harmful rays.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:melanin:m2:1
# text = Melanin helps protect skin from the sun's harmful rays.
1	Melanin	melanin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	protect	protect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
4	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	rays	ray	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Melanin |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **protect** | infinitive | Melanin *not said here* | skin |  |  |  | from the sun's harmful rays | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent skin=Beneficiary from ray=Theme |
| 3 | **ray** |  | the sun |  |  |  |  |  | nom ray «phenomenon transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Melanin gives your skin its colour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:melanin:x1:1
# text = Melanin gives your skin its colour.
1	Melanin	melanin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | Melanin | your skin |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent skin=Recipient colour=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Freckles are spots with more melanin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:melanin:x2:1
# text = Freckles are spots with more melanin.
1	Freckles	freckle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	spots	spot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	melanin	melanin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Freckles | spots |  |  |  | with more melanin | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Skin makes more melanin in the sun, so you tan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:melanin:x3:1
# text = Skin makes more melanin in the sun, so you tan.
1	Skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	amod	_	_
4	melanin	melanin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	tan	tan	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Skin | more melanin |  | the sun |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset melanin=Product |
| 2 | **tan** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Even with lots of melanin, you still need sun cream.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:melanin:x4:1
# text = Even with lots of melanin, you still need sun cream.
1	Even	even	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	melanin	melanin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	still	still	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
10	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | you | sun cream |  |  | still |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot cream=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People with albinism have very little melanin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:melanin:x5:1
# text = People with albinism have very little melanin.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	albinism	albinism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	melanin	melanin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | People with albinism | little melanin |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent melanin=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Melanin also colours your hair and eyes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:melanin:x6:1
# text = Melanin also colours your hair and eyes.
1	Melanin	Melanin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- 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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