---
title: molecule — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «molecule» in the school dictionary: A molecule is the smallest unit of a substance that still has its properties, made of two or more atoms joined together. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# molecule

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** molecule, substance, water molecule, ice, molecules, Smells · **What happens:** be, have, make, join, melt, start · **To what, where:** smallest unit, properties, two atoms, two hydrogen atoms, three atoms, Oxygen gas

<!-- .vabout -->
«molecule» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [molecule in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/molecule.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A molecule is the smallest unit of a substance that still has its properties, made of two or more atoms joined together.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molecule:m1:1
# text = A molecule is the smallest unit of a substance that still has its properties, made of two or more atoms joined together.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	molecule	molecule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	smallest	small	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	unit	unit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
11	still	still	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	properties	property	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	acl	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
18	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	21	nummod	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	18	conj	_	_
21	atoms	atom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	_
22	joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	21	acl	_	_
23	together	together	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a molecule | the smallest unit |  |  |  | of a substance | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | a substance | molecule's properties |  |  | still |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent property=Patient |
| 3 | **make** | participle |  | molecule's properties *not said here* |  |  |  | of two atoms | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 4 | **join** | participle |  | two atoms *not said here* |  |  |  | together *property* | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .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 water molecule, for example, is two hydrogen atoms joined to one oxygen atom (H2O).

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molecule:m2:1
# text = A water molecule, for example, is two hydrogen atoms joined to one oxygen atom (H2O).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	molecule	molecule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
10	hydrogen	hydrogen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	atoms	atom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
12	joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	acl	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	16	nummod	_	_
15	oxygen	oxygen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	atom	atom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
17	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	H2O	H2O	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a water molecule for example | two hydrogen atoms |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **join** | participle |  | two hydrogen atoms *not said here* |  |  |  | to one oxygen atom | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Patient to atom=Co-Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A water molecule has three atoms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molecule:x1:1
# text = A water molecule has three atoms.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	molecule	molecule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	atoms	atom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a water molecule | three atoms |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent atom=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When ice melts, its molecules start to move more freely.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molecule:x2:1
# text = When ice melts, its molecules start to move more freely.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	3	mark	_	_
2	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	melts	melt	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	molecules	molecule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	11	advmod	_	_
11	freely	freely	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **melt** | present | ice |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **start** | present | ice's molecules |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **move** | to-infinitive | ice's molecules *not said here* |  |  |  |  | freely *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oxygen gas is made of molecules with two oxygen atoms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molecule:x3:1
# text = Oxygen gas is made of molecules with two oxygen atoms.
1	Oxygen	oxygen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	gas	gas	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	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	molecules	molecule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
9	oxygen	oxygen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	atoms	atom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | Oxygen gas |  |  |  | of molecules with two oxygen atoms | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Smells reach your nose as tiny molecules floating in the air.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molecule:x4:1
# text = Smells reach your nose as tiny molecules floating in the air.
1	Smells	smell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	reach	reach	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|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	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	molecules	molecule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	floating	float	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reach** | present | Smells | your nose |  |  |  | as tiny molecules | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent nose=Theme |
| 2 | **float** | gerund | tiny molecules *not said here* |  |  | the air |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in air=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Heating makes molecules move faster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molecule:x5:1
# text = Heating makes molecules move faster.
1	Heating	heating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	molecules	molecule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	faster	fast	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Heating |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **move** | infinitive | molecules |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Carbon dioxide molecules are breathed out by animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molecule:x6:1
# text = Carbon dioxide molecules are breathed out by animals.
1	Carbon	carbon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	dioxide	dioxide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	molecules	molecule	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	breathed	breathe	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **breathe out** | present · passive | animals | dioxide molecules |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A single drop of water has more molecules than there are stars we can see.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molecule:x7:1
# text = A single drop of water has more molecules than there are stars we can see.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	single	single	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	drop	drop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	amod	_	_
8	molecules	molecule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	11	expl	_	_
11	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
12	stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
13	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a single drop of water | more molecules |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent molecule=Patient |
| 2 | **does** | present | stars |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **see** | can | we | stars *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer star=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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