---
title: minimise — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «minimise» in the school dictionary: To make something as small or as little as possible: minimise the risk. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# minimise

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, her, 's, He, problem, We · **What happens:** make, minimise, seem, be, not minimise, worry · **To what, where:** something, risk, worries, window, screen shrink, helmet · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«minimise» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [minimise in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/minimise.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make something as small or as little as possible: minimise the risk.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minimise:m1:1
# text = To make something as small or as little as possible: minimise the risk.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	as	as	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
9	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	possible	possible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
12	minimise	minimise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	risk	risk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  | small *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 2 | **minimise** | imperative | you *not said here* | the risk |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 make something seem less important or serious than it is: don't minimise her worries.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minimise:m2:1
# text = To make something seem less important or serious than it is: don't minimise her worries.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	seem	seem	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
6	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
9	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	minimise	minimise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
16	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	worries	worry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 2 | **seem** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | important, less *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **not** **minimise** | infinitive · do-support | you *not said here* | her worries |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **worry** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom worry «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make a window on a screen shrink to a small button or icon.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minimise:m3:1
# text = To make a window on a screen shrink to a small button or icon.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	screen	screen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	shrink	shrink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	button	button	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	icon	icon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a window |  | a screen shrink |  | to a small button or icon | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset window=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wear a helmet to minimise the risk of head injury.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minimise:x1:1
# text = Wear a helmet to minimise the risk of head injury.
1	Wear	wear	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	helmet	helmet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	minimise	minimise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	risk	risk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	injury	injury	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | imperative | you *not said here* | a helmet |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent helmet=Theme |
| 2 | **minimise** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the risk of head injury |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **risk** |  |  | head injury |  |  |  |  | nom risk «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let's minimise waste by recycling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minimise:x2:1
# text = Let's minimise waste by recycling.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	minimise	minimise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	recycling	recycling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **minimise** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | waste |  |  |  | by recycling | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Minimise the window and open the game again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minimise:x3:1
# text = Minimise the window and open the game again.
1	Minimise	minimise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	open	open	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **minimise** | imperative | you *not said here* | the window |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **open** | infinitive | you *not said here* | the game |  |  | again |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location game=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He minimised the problem, saying it was nothing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minimise:x4:1
# text = He minimised the problem, saying it was nothing.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	minimised	minimis	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **minimis** | past | He | the problem |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | past | problem | nothing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We want to minimise the cost of the trip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minimise:x5:1
# text = We want to minimise the cost of the trip.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	minimise	minimise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cost	cost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **minimise** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | the cost of the trip |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **cost** |  |  | the trip |  |  |  |  | nom cost «possession transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Close the door to minimise noise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minimise:x6:1
# text = Close the door to minimise noise.
1	Close	close	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	minimise	minimise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **close** | imperative | you *not said here* | the door |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent door=Patient |
| 2 | **minimise** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | noise |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Find the shortest route to minimise travel time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minimise:x7:1
# text = Find the shortest route to minimise travel time.
1	Find	find	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	shortest	short	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	4	amod	_	_
4	route	route	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	minimise	minimise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	travel	travel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | imperative | you *not said here* | the shortest route |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent route=Topic |
| 2 | **minimise** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the shortest route *not said here* |  |  | time |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't minimise your friend's feelings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minimise:x8:1
# text = Don't minimise your friend's feelings.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	minimise	minimise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **minimise** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | your friend's feelings |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->
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