---
title: moth — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «moth» in the school dictionary: An insect like a butterfly, usually with dull brown or grey wings, that mostly flies at night and is drawn to lights. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# moth

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** that, small moth, moth, caterpillar, Moths, they · **What happens:** fly, draw, eat, attract, turn, be · **To what, where:** lights, holes, wool clothes, lamp, Moths, moth

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An insect like a butterfly, usually with dull brown or grey wings, that mostly flies at night and is drawn to lights.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moth:m1:1
# text = An insect like a butterfly, usually with dull brown or grey wings, that mostly flies at night and is drawn to lights.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	butterfly	butterfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
7	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
9	dull	dull	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
10	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
13	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	17	nsubj	_	_
16	mostly	mostly	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	flies	fly	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	parataxis	_	_
18	at	at	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux:pass	_	_
22	drawn	draw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	conj	_	_
23	to	to	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | present | that |  |  |  | night | mostly *property* | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **draw** | present · passive | that *not said here* |  |  | lights |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: to light=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 small moth whose young (larvae) eat holes in wool clothes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moth:m2:1
# text = A small moth whose young (larvae) eat holes in wool clothes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	moth	moth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	7	nmod:poss	_	_
5	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	larvae	larva	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	_
9	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	holes	hole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	wool	wool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | a small moth  a small moth  a small moth's young larvae's young larvae | holes |  | wool clothes |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hole=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A moth flew around the lamp.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moth:x1:1
# text = A moth flew around the lamp.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	moth	moth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	around	around	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lamp	lamp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | past | a moth |  |  | the lamp |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme around lamp=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moths are attracted to light at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moth:x2:1
# text = Moths are attracted to light at night.
1	Moths	moth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	attracted	attract	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attract** | present · passive |  | Moths |  |  | night | to light *result* | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP PP.result»: subject=Patient to light=Result |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The caterpillar turned into a moth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moth:x3:1
# text = The caterpillar turned into a moth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	caterpillar	caterpillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	moth	moth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | the caterpillar |  |  | a moth |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme into moth=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moths ate holes in Grandpa's wool jumper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moth:x4:1
# text = Moths ate holes in Grandpa's wool jumper.
1	Moths	moth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	holes	hole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	wool	wool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	jumper	jumper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | past | Moths | holes |  | Grandpa's wool jumper |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hole=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some moths are as colourful as butterflies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moth:x5:1
# text = Some moths are as colourful as butterflies.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	moths	moth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	as	as	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	colourful	colourful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	butterflies	butterfly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | some moths |  |  |  |  | as butterflies; colourful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moths help pollinate flowers at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moth:x6:1
# text = Moths help pollinate flowers at night.
1	Moths	moth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	pollinate	pollinate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
4	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Moths |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **pollinate** | infinitive | Moths *not said here* | flowers |  |  | night |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
For they saw at once that it was the great white Arctic moth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moth:x7:1
# text = For they saw at once that it was the great white Arctic moth.
1	For	for	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	3	obl	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
10	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
11	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
12	Arctic	arctic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	moth	moth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is a** | past | it | the great white Arctic moth |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

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**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.

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