---
title: membrane — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «membrane» in the school dictionary: A very thin layer, like a skin, that covers or lines a part of a living thing or a cell. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# membrane

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** thin layer, that, things, living cell, cell membrane, you · **What happens:** cover, line, make, let, pass through, stop · **To what, where:** part, others, living cell, egg, thin membrane, shell

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A very thin layer, like a skin, that covers or lines a part of a living thing or a cell.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:membrane:m1:1
# text = A very thin layer, like a skin, that covers or lines a part of a living thing or a cell.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	covers	cover	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	lines	line	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cover** | present | a thin layer and a skin |  |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **line** | present | a thin layer and a skin *not said here* | a part of a living thing or a cell |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme part=Destination |

<!-- .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 thin sheet of material, natural or man-made, that lets some things pass through and stops others.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:membrane:m2:1
# text = A thin sheet of material, natural or man-made, that lets some things pass through and stops others.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sheet	sheet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	parataxis	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	lets	let	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	16	det	_	_
16	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
17	pass	pass	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	ccomp	_	_
18	through	through	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	_
21	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle | that *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **let** | present | that |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **pass through** | present | some things |  |  |  |  | through *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **stop** | present | that *not said here* | others |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality other=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cell membrane: the thin outer layer around every living cell that controls what goes in and out.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:membrane:m3:1
# text = The cell membrane: the thin outer layer around every living cell that controls what goes in and out.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	membrane	membrane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	outer	outer	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
9	around	around	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	12	det	_	_
11	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	controls	control	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
15	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	14	obj	_	_
16	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
17	in	in	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	out	out	ADV	RB	_	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **control** | present | every living cell | every living cell |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Theme |
| 2 | **go** | present | the cell membrane |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cell membrane controls what goes in and out of the cell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:membrane:x1:1
# text = The cell membrane controls what goes in and out of the cell.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	membrane	membrane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	controls	control	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	6	nsubj	_	_
6	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
7	in	in	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	out	out	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **control** | present | the cell membrane |  |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **go** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Peel the egg carefully and you will see a thin membrane under the shell.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:membrane:x2:1
# text = Peel the egg carefully and you will see a thin membrane under the shell.
1	Peel	peel	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	membrane	membrane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
12	under	under	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **peel** | imperative | you *not said here* | the egg |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn pit-10.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent egg=Source |
| 2 | **see** | future | you | a thin membrane |  | the shell |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer membrane=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The eardrum is a membrane that shakes when sound hits it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:membrane:x3:1
# text = The eardrum is a membrane that shakes when sound hits it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	eardrum	eardrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	membrane	membrane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	shakes	shake	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
9	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	hits	hit	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the eardrum | a membrane |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **shake** | present | a membrane |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **hit** | present | sound | eardrum |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme it=Co-Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A frog has a membrane that covers its eyes underwater.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:membrane:x4:1
# text = A frog has a membrane that covers its eyes underwater.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	membrane	membrane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	covers	cover	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	underwater	underwater	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a frog | a membrane |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent membrane=Patient |
| 2 | **cover** | present | a membrane | frog's eyes |  |  |  | underwater *property* | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme eye=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bats' wings are made of a stretchy membrane of skin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:membrane:x5:1
# text = Bats' wings are made of a stretchy membrane of skin.
1	Bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	stretchy	stretchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	membrane	membrane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | Bats's wings |  |  |  | of a stretchy membrane of skin | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The builder put a plastic membrane under the concrete to keep out damp.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:membrane:x6:1
# text = The builder put a plastic membrane under the concrete to keep out damp.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	builder	builder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	plastic	plastic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	membrane	membrane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	under	under	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	concrete	concrete	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
12	out	out	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	_
13	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | past | the builder | a plastic membrane |  | the concrete |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent membrane=Theme under concrete=Destination |
| 2 | **keep out** | to-infinitive | the builder *not said here* |  |  |  |  | damp *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your nose is lined with a wet membrane that traps dust.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:membrane:x7:1
# text = Your nose is lined with a wet membrane that traps dust.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	lined	line	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	membrane	membrane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	traps	trap	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	dust	dust	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **line** | present · passive |  | Your nose |  |  |  | with a wet membrane | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Destination with membrane=Theme |
| 2 | **trap** | present | a wet membrane | dust |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dust=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [membership](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/membership/)
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- ↑ back to [M in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/)