---
title: orca — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «orca» in the school dictionary: An orca, also called a killer whale, is a large black-and-white sea mammal with a tall back fin; it is actually the biggest member of the dolphin family. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# orca

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** orca, Orcas, family groups, We, orca pod, pod · **What happens:** call, be, live, hunt, breathe, see · **To what, where:** killer whale, large sea mammal, biggest member, family groups, pods, largest kind · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An orca, also called a killer whale, is a large black-and-white sea mammal with a tall back fin; it is actually the biggest member of the dolphin family.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:orca:m1:1
# text = An orca, also called a killer whale, is a large black-and-white sea mammal with a tall back fin; it is actually the biggest member of the dolphin family.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	orca	orca	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	killer	killer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
12	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
13	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	_
18	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	mammal	mammal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
20	with	with	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
22	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
23	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	fin	fin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	31	punct	_	_
26	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	31	nsubj	_	_
27	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	31	cop	_	_
28	actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	31	advmod	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
30	biggest	big	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	31	amod	_	_
31	member	member	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	_
32	of	of	ADP	IN	_	35	case	_	_
33	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
34	dolphin	dolphin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	35	compound	_	_
35	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	19	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle | a orca *not said here* | a killer whale |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a orca | a large sea mammal and the biggest member |  |  |  | with a tall back fin | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | present | orca | the biggest member |  |  |  | of the dolphin family; actually *property* | 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 -->
Orcas live and hunt in family groups called pods in all the world's oceans, especially cold ones.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:orca:m2:1
# text = Orcas live and hunt in family groups called pods in all the world's oceans, especially cold ones.
1	Orcas	orca	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	hunt	hunt	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	pods	pod	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	xcomp	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
11	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	15	det:predet	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	's	PART	POS	_	13	case	_	_
15	oceans	ocean	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
18	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Orcas |  |  | family groups |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in group=Location |
| 2 | **hunt** | present | Orcas *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **call** | participle | family groups *not said here* | pods in the world's oceans and cold ones |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The orca is the largest kind of dolphin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:orca:x1:1
# text = The orca is the largest kind of dolphin.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	orca	orca	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	largest	large	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	dolphin	dolphin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the orca | the largest kind |  |  |  | of dolphin | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Orcas hunt together in pods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:orca:x2:1
# text = Orcas hunt together in pods.
1	Orcas	orca	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hunt	hunt	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	together	together	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	pods	pod	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hunt** | present | Orcas |  |  | pods |  | together *property* | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent in pod=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An orca breathes through a blowhole on its head.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:orca:x3:1
# text = An orca breathes through a blowhole on its head.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	orca	orca	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	breathes	breathe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	blowhole	blowhole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **breathe** | present | a orca |  |  | a blowhole on orca's head |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw an orca's tall black fin from the boat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:orca:x4:1
# text = We saw an orca's tall black fin from the boat.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	orca	orca	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	fin	fin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a orca's tall black fin |  | the boat |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer fin=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Orcas sometimes slide onto beaches to catch seals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:orca:x5:1
# text = Orcas sometimes slide onto beaches to catch seals.
1	Orcas	orca	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	3	advmod	_	_
3	slide	slide	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	beaches	beach	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	seals	seal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slide** | present | Orcas |  |  | beaches |  | sometimes *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme onto beach=Trajectory |
| 2 | **catch** | to-infinitive | Orcas *not said here* | seals |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent seal=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each orca pod has its own calls.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:orca:x6:1
# text = Each orca pod has its own calls.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
2	orca	orca	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	pod	pod	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	calls	call	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | each orca pod | pod's own calls |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent call=Patient |
| 2 | **call** |  | pod |  |  |  |  |  | nom call «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Another name for the orca is the killer whale.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:orca:x7:1
# text = Another name for the orca is the killer whale.
1	Another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	orca	orca	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	killer	killer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | another name for the orca | the killer whale |  |  |  |  | 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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