---
title: muffled — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «muffled» in the school dictionary: Quiet and unclear because something is in the way, as in "a muffled voice". Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# muffled

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, I, face, Her, snow, muffled thump · **What happens:** be, muffle, make, cover, wrap up, muffle up · **To what, where:** way, sound, scarves, muffled voices, next room, answer

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Quiet and unclear because something is in the way, as in "a muffled voice".

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffled:m1:1
# text = Quiet and unclear because something is in the way, as in "a muffled voice".
1	Quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	unclear	unclear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
11	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
13	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	muffled	muffle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	amod	_	_
16	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | something |  |  | the way |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **muffle** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Made a sound quieter by covering it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffled:m2:1
# text = Made a sound quieter by covering it.
1	Made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	quieter	quiet	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	1	xcomp	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	covering	cover	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past |  | a sound |  |  |  | quiet *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |
| 2 | **cover** | gerund |  | sound |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme it=Destination |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wrapped up warmly, as in "muffled up in scarves".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffled:m3:1
# text = Wrapped up warmly, as in "muffled up in scarves".
1	Wrapped	wrap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	warmly	warmly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	muffled	muffle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	scarves	scarf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wrap up** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | warmly *property* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **muffle up** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  | scarves |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I heard muffled voices from the next room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffled:x1:1
# text = I heard muffled voices from the next room.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|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	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	room	room	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 | **hear** | past | I | muffled voices |  | the next room |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent voice=Topic from room=Source |
| 2 | **muffle** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her answer was muffled because her face was in the pillow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffled:x2:1
# text = Her answer was muffled because her face was in the pillow.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	muffled	muffle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	pillow	pillow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **muffle** | past · passive |  | Her answer |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | past | her face |  |  | the pillow |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **answer** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The snow muffled the sound of our footsteps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffled:x3:1
# text = The snow muffled the sound of our footsteps.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	muffled	muffle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	footsteps	footstep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **muffle** | past | the snow | the sound of our footsteps |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sound=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a muffled thump in the attic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffled:x4:1
# text = There was a muffled thump in the attic.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	muffled	muffle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	thump	thump	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	attic	attic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a muffled thump in the attic |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **muffle** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We wrapped the alarm clock in a towel and its ring was muffled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffled:x5:1
# text = We wrapped the alarm clock in a towel and its ring was muffled.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrapped	wrap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	alarm	alarm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	towel	towel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
10	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	ring	ring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	muffled	muffle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wrap** | past | We | the alarm clock |  | a towel |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent clock=Theme in towel=Destination |
| 2 | **muffle** | past · passive |  | towel's ring |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffled:x6:1
# text = The children were muffled up in coats and scarves.
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	coats	coat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	scarves	scarf	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 |  | coats and scarves |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In science we tested which materials muffled sound best.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffled:x7:1
# text = In science we tested which materials muffled sound best.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tested	test	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	6	det	_	_
6	materials	material	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	muffled	muffle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	best	well	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | past | we |  |  | science |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **muffle** | past | which materials | sound |  |  |  | well *property* | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sound=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A queer sound could be heard, soft as a little bell, and faint and muffled like the buzz of a far-away mosquito.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muffled:x8:1
# text = A queer sound could be heard, soft as a little bell, and faint and muffled like the buzz of a far-away mosquito.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	queer	queer	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	heard	hear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	bell	bell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	faint	faint	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	parataxis	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	muffled	muffle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	conj	_	_
18	like	like	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	buzz	buzz	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
23	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	25	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	away	away	ADV	RB	_	26	advmod	_	_
26	mosquito	mosquito	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | could · passive |  | a queer sound |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: subject=Stimulus |
| 2 | **muffle** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | like the buzz of a mosquito | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **buzz** |  | a mosquito |  |  |  |  |  | nom buzz «event intransitive»: of=agent |

<!-- 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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