---
title: muffle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «muffle» in the school dictionary: To muffle a sound is to make it quieter and less clear, for example by covering it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# muffle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** thick snow, We, She, her, muffles, Car mufflers · **What happens:** muffle, be, cover, muffle up, hear, giggle · **To what, where:** sound, someone, warm clothes, footsteps, muffled voices, wall

<!-- .vabout -->
«muffle» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [muffle in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/muffle.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To muffle a sound is to make it quieter and less clear, for example by covering it.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffle:m1:1
# text = To muffle a sound is to make it quieter and less clear, for example by covering it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	muffle	muffle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	quieter	quiet	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	xcomp	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	12	advmod	_	_
12	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
16	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
17	covering	cover	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **muffle** | to-infinitive |  | a sound |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sound=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | for example; make, quiet *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **cover** | gerund |  | sound |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme it=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 -->
To muffle someone or something up is to wrap them in warm clothes or cloth.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffle:m2:1
# text = To muffle someone or something up is to wrap them in warm clothes or cloth.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	muffle	muffle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	conj	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	wrap	wrap	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	9	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **muffle up** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | warm clothes or cloth |  | wrap *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The thick snow muffled our footsteps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffle:x1:1
# text = The thick snow muffled our footsteps.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	muffled	muffle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	footsteps	footstep	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 | **muffle** | past | the thick snow | our footsteps |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent footstep=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We heard muffled voices through the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffle:x2:1
# text = We heard muffled voices through the wall.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	muffled	muffle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	voices	voice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | We | muffled voices |  | the wall |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer voice=Stimulus |
| 2 | **muffle** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She muffled her giggles with a pillow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffle:x3:1
# text = She muffled her giggles with a pillow.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	muffled	muffle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	giggles	giggle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pillow	pillow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **muffle** | past | She | her giggles |  |  |  | with a pillow | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent giggle=Patient with pillow=Instrument |
| 2 | **giggle** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom giggle «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We tested which material muffles sound best.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffle:x4:1
# text = We tested which material muffles sound best.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tested	test	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	4	det	_	_
4	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	muffles	muffle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	sound	sound	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	best	well	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | past | We | which material |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent material=Theme |
| 2 | **sound** | present | muffles | which material *not said here* |  |  |  | well *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location material=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The children were muffled up in scarves and hats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffle:x5:1
# text = The children were muffled up in scarves and hats.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	muffled	muffle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	scarves	scarf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	hats	hat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **muffle up** | past · passive |  | the children |  | scarves and hats |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Car mufflers (US) make engines quieter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffle:x6:1
# text = Car mufflers (US) make engines quieter.
1	Car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	mufflers	muffler	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	engines	engine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	quieter	quiet	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Car mufflers | engines |  |  |  | quiet *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset engine=Product |

<!-- 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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