---
title: microorganism — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «microorganism» in the school dictionary: A living thing so tiny that you can only see it with a microscope, such as a bacterium, a virus (usually counted with them), some fungi like yeast, or algae. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# microorganism

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Yeast, microorganism, microorganisms, food, Washing · **What happens:** see, count, be, make, rise, cause · **To what, where:** thing, virus, microorganism, food, hands, many harmful microorganisms

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A living thing so tiny that you can only see it with a microscope, such as a bacterium, a virus (usually counted with them), some fungi like yeast, or algae.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microorganism:m1:1
# text = A living thing so tiny that you can only see it with a microscope, such as a bacterium, a virus (usually counted with them), some fungi like yeast, or algae.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	only	only	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	microscope	microscope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	19	case	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	fixed	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	bacterium	bacterium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	virus	virus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	appos	_	_
23	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	_
25	counted	count	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	acl:relcl	_	_
26	with	with	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
30	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	31	det	_	_
31	fungi	fungus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	_
32	like	like	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
33	yeast	yeast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	36	punct	_	_
35	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	36	cc	_	_
36	algae	alga	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	33	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | can | you | thing |  |  |  | with a microscope  some fungi like yeast or algae and a bacterium | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |
| 2 | **count** | participle |  | a virus *not said here* |  |  |  | with microscope; usually *property* | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yeast is a microorganism that makes bread dough rise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microorganism:x1:1
# text = Yeast is a microorganism that makes bread dough rise.
1	Yeast	yeast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	microorganism	microorganism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	dough	dough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	rise	rise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Yeast | a microorganism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | a microorganism |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **rise** | infinitive | a microorganism *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some microorganisms cause food to go mouldy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microorganism:x2:1
# text = Some microorganisms cause food to go mouldy.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	microorganisms	microorganism	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cause	cause	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	mouldy	mouldy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | some microorganisms | food |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | to-infinitive | food *not said here* |  |  |  |  | mouldy *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Washing your hands with soap removes many harmful microorganisms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microorganism:x3:1
# text = Washing your hands with soap removes many harmful microorganisms.
1	Washing	wash	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
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	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	soap	soap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	removes	remove	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	microorganisms	microorganism	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | gerund |  | your hands |  |  |  | with soap | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent hand=Patient with soap=Instrument |
| 2 | **remove** | present | Washing | many harmful microorganisms |  |  |  |  | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent microorganism=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We looked at pond water and saw microorganisms swimming under the microscope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microorganism:x4:1
# text = We looked at pond water and saw microorganisms swimming under the microscope.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	microorganisms	microorganism	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	swimming	swim	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
10	under	under	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	microscope	microscope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | We |  |  |  |  | at pond water | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at water=Theme |
| 2 | **see** | past | We *not said here* | microorganisms |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer microorganism=Stimulus |
| 3 | **swim** | gerund | microorganisms *not said here* |  |  | the microscope |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme under microscope=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bacteria in yogurt are helpful microorganisms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microorganism:x5:1
# text = Bacteria in yogurt are helpful microorganisms.
1	Bacteria	bacterium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	yogurt	yogurt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	helpful	helpful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	microorganisms	microorganism	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Bacteria in yogurt | helpful microorganisms |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Microorganisms in the compost heap break down leaves and peel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microorganism:x6:1
# text = Microorganisms in the compost heap break down leaves and peel.
1	Microorganisms	microorganism	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	compost	compost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	heap	heap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
6	break	break	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	peel	peel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break down** | present | Microorganisms in the compost heap | leaves and peel |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leaf=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fridges slow down the growth of microorganisms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microorganism:x7:1
# text = Fridges slow down the growth of microorganisms.
1	Fridges	fridge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	slow	slow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	down	down	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	growth	growth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	microorganisms	microorganism	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slow down** | present | Fridges | the growth of microorganisms |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent growth=Patient |
| 2 | **grow** |  | microorganisms |  |  |  |  |  | nom growth «process intransitive»: of=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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