---
title: meow — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «meow» in the school dictionary: A meow is the soft crying sound a cat makes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# meow

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** meow, cat, People, someone, kitten, I · **What happens:** cry, be, make, meow, say, give · **To what, where:** soft crying sound, meow, catty, kitten, cat, legs · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A meow is the soft crying sound a cat makes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meow:m1:1
# text = A meow is the soft crying sound a cat makes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	meow	meow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	crying	cry	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry** *speech: express* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a meow | the soft crying sound |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** | present | a cat | the soft crying sound *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sound=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
To meow is to make this sound.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meow:m2:1
# text = To meow is to make this sound.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	meow	meow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meow** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People sometimes say "meow" after someone makes a catty, spiteful remark, as a joke.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meow:m3:1
# text = People sometimes say "meow" after someone makes a catty, spiteful remark, as a joke.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	3	advmod	_	_
3	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	meow	meow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
9	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	catty	catty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	spiteful	spiteful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	remark	remark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	as	as	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | People | meow |  |  |  | sometimes *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent meow=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | present | someone | a catty and spiteful remark |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent catty=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kitten meowed until I gave it some milk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meow:x1:1
# text = The kitten meowed until I gave it some milk.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	meowed	meow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	det	_	_
9	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meow** | past | the kitten |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **give** | past | I | kitten |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent it=Recipient milk=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Meow!" said the cat, rubbing against my legs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meow:x2:1
# text = "Meow!" said the cat, rubbing against my legs.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Meow	meow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	rubbing	rub	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
10	against	against	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Meow | the cat |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent cat=Topic |
| 2 | **rub** | gerund | Meow *not said here* |  |  | my legs |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme against leg=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We heard a sad meow from under the shed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meow:x3:1
# text = We heard a sad meow from under the shed.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	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	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	meow	meow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	under	under	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	shed	shed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | We | a sad meow |  | the shed |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent meow=Topic from shed=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our cat meows at the door every morning to be let out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meow:x4:1
# text = Our cat meows at the door every morning to be let out.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	meows	meow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	let	let	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	_
12	out	out	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meow** | present | Our cat |  |  |  | morning | at the door | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Agent at door=Stimulus |
| 2 | **let out** | to-infinitive · passive | Our cat *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient» |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In music class we sang a song with lots of meows in it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meow:x5:1
# text = In music class we sang a song with lots of meows in it.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	meows	meow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | we | a song |  | music class |  | with lots of meows in song | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location song=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(slang) "Your hair looks like a bird's nest." "Ooh, meow!"

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* (slang) "Your hair looks like a bird's nest." "

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meow:x6:1
# text = (slang) "Your hair looks like a bird's nest." "
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	nest	nest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
15	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** *in a quote* | present | Your hair | slang |  |  |  | like a bird's nest | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Ooh, meow!"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meow:x6:2
# text = Ooh, meow!"
1	Ooh	ooh	INTJ	UH	_	3	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	meow	meow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	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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