---
title: nucleus — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nucleus» in the school dictionary: The nucleus is the centre of a cell that holds its DNA and controls it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nucleus

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** nucleus, that, cell, Plant cells, We, Nuclear power · **What happens:** be, hold, control, make, do, have · **To what, where:** centre, DNA, tiny centre, central part, nucleus, protons

<!-- .vabout -->
«nucleus» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [nucleus in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nucleus.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nucleus is the centre of a cell that holds its DNA and controls it.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nucleus:m1:1
# text = The nucleus is the centre of a cell that holds its DNA and controls it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nucleus	nucleus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	centre	centre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
11	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	controls	control	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the nucleus | the centre |  |  |  | of a cell | tree rules |
| 2 | **hold** | present | that | nucleus's DNA |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dna=Theme |
| 3 | **control** | present | that *not said here* | DNA |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nucleus of an atom is its tiny centre, made of protons and neutrons.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nucleus:m2:1
# text = The nucleus of an atom is its tiny centre, made of protons and neutrons.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nucleus	nucleus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	atom	atom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	centre	centre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	protons	proton	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	neutrons	neutron	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the nucleus of a atom | nucleus's tiny centre |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | nucleus's tiny centre *not said here* |  |  |  | of protons and neutrons | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A nucleus is the central or most important part of a group or thing, as in the nucleus of a team.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nucleus:m3:1
# text = A nucleus is the central or most important part of a group or thing, as in the nucleus of a team.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nucleus	nucleus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	central	central	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	8	advmod	_	_
8	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
9	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	as	as	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	nucleus	nucleus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a nucleus | the central part and the nucleus of a team |  |  |  | of a group or thing | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nucleus controls what the cell does.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nucleus:x1:1
# text = The nucleus controls what the cell does.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nucleus	nucleus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	controls	control	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	7	obj	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **control** | present | the nucleus |  |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **do** | present | the cell |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plant and animal cells both have a nucleus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nucleus:x2:1
# text = Plant and animal cells both have a nucleus.
1	Plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	both	both	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	nucleus	nucleus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Plant cells | a nucleus |  |  |  | both *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nucleus=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nucleus of an atom contains protons and neutrons.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nucleus:x3:1
# text = The nucleus of an atom contains protons and neutrons.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nucleus	nucleus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	atom	atom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	contains	contain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	protons	proton	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	neutrons	neutron	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contain** | present | the nucleus of a atom | protons and neutrons |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot proton=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We drew the nucleus in the middle of our cell diagram.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nucleus:x4:1
# text = We drew the nucleus in the middle of our cell diagram.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	nucleus	nucleus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	middle	middle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	diagram	diagram	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | past | We | the nucleus |  | the middle of our cell diagram |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent nucleus=Theme in middle=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nuclear power comes from splitting the nucleus of atoms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nucleus:x5:1
# text = Nuclear power comes from splitting the nucleus of atoms.
1	Nuclear	nuclear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	splitting	split	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	nucleus	nucleus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	atoms	atom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present | Nuclear power |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **split** | gerund | Nuclear power *not said here* | the nucleus of atoms |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nucleus=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
These five players are the nucleus of the team.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nucleus:x6:1
# text = These five players are the nucleus of the team.
1	These	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
2	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	nucleus	nucleus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | this five players | the nucleus |  |  |  | of the team | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The latter scholar has proved that there is a nucleus of stories in every European land which is common to all.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nucleus:x7:1
# text = The latter scholar has proved that there is a nucleus of stories in every European land which is common to all.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	latter	latter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	scholar	scholar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	proved	prove	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	8	expl	_	_
8	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	nucleus	nucleus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	16	det	_	_
15	European	European	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
17	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	19	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
19	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	acl:relcl	_	_
20	to	to	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prove** | present · perfect | the latter scholar |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **be** | present | a nucleus of stories in every European land |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present | every European land |  |  |  |  | to all; common *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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