---
title: muck — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «muck» in the school dictionary: Muck is dirt, mud or something wet and dirty. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# muck

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Muck, Muck about/around, farmer, We, you, your · **What happens:** be, spread, mean, behave, muck up, spoil · **To what, where:** dirt mud, animal dung, fields, silly way, something, stable · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«muck» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [muck in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/muck.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Muck is dirt, mud or something wet and dirty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muck:m1:1
# text = Muck is dirt, mud or something wet and dirty.
1	Muck	muck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	dirt	dirt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	conj	_	_
8	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	dirty	dirty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Muck | dirt mud |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
Muck is animal dung (poo), often spread on fields as manure.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muck:m2:1
# text = Muck is animal dung (poo), often spread on fields as manure.
1	Muck	muck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	dung	dung	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	poo	poo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	spread	spread	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	fields	field	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	manure	manure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Muck | animal dung |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **spread** | participle | Muck *not said here* |  |  | fields |  | as manure; often *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on field=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Muck about/around means to behave in a silly way and waste time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muck:m3:1
# text = Muck about/around means to behave in a silly way and waste time.
1	Muck	muck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	about/around	about/around	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	behave	behave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Muck about/around |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **behave** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Muck about/around *not said here* |  |  | a silly way and waste time |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Muck up means to spoil or do something badly; muck in means to help with the work; muck out means to clean an animal's stable.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muck:m4:1
# text = Muck up means to spoil or do something badly; muck in means to help with the work; muck out means to clean an animal's stable.
1	Muck	muck	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	nsubj	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	spoil	spoil	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	muck	muck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
20	muck	muck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
21	out	out	ADP	RP	_	20	compound:prt	_	_
22	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
23	to	to	PART	TO	_	24	mark	_	_
24	clean	clean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	ccomp	_	_
25	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	's	's	PART	POS	_	26	case	_	_
28	stable	stable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **muck up** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **spoil** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **do** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 5 | **mean** | present | muck |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 6 | **help** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | muck *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with the work | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with work=Theme |
| 7 | **mean** | present | muck |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 8 | **clean** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | a animal's stable |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent stable=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your trainers are covered in muck!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muck:x1:1
# text = Your trainers are covered in muck!
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	trainers	trainer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	muck	muck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cover** | present · passive |  | Your trainers |  |  |  | in muck | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Destination in muck=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmer spread muck on the field.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muck:x2:1
# text = The farmer spread muck on the field.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	muck	muck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	field	field	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 | **spread** | past | the farmer | muck |  | the field |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent muck=Theme on field=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We took turns to muck out the stables.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muck:x3:1
# text = We took turns to muck out the stables.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	turns	turn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	muck	muck	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stables	stable	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | We | turns |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent turn=Theme |
| 2 | **muck out** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | the stables |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop mucking about and finish your work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muck:x4:1
# text = Stop mucking about and finish your work.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	mucking	muck	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	about	about	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	finish	finish	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **muck about** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **finish** | infinitive | you *not said here* | your work |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality work=Eventuality |
| 4 | **work** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I mucked up my spelling test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muck:x5:1
# text = I mucked up my spelling test.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	mucked	muck	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **muck up** | past | I | my spelling test |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **test** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom test «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everyone mucked in to tidy the hall after the party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muck:x6:1
# text = Everyone mucked in to tidy the hall after the party.
1	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	2	nsubj	_	_
2	mucked	muck	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	tidy	tidy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hall	hall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **muck in** | past | Everyone |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tidy** | to-infinitive | Everyone *not said here* | the hall |  |  | after the party |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wipe the muck off the window.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muck:x7:1
# text = Wipe the muck off the window.
1	Wipe	wipe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	muck	muck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	off	off	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wipe** | imperative | you *not said here* | the muck |  | the window |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent muck=Theme off window=Trajectory |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There you will find a sorry colt rolling in the muck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muck:x8:1
# text = There you will find a sorry colt rolling in the muck.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	4	expl	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	colt	colt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	rolling	roll	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	muck	muck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | future | you | a sorry colt |  | there |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent colt=Topic |
| 2 | **roll** | gerund | a sorry colt *not said here* |  |  | the muck |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in muck=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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