---
title: pheromone — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pheromone» in the school dictionary: A pheromone is a chemical that an animal gives off to send a message to others of its own kind, such as «follow me», «danger» or «I am looking for a mate». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pheromone

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pheromone, animal, I, Ants, bee, alarm pheromone · **What happens:** be, give off, send, follow, look, smell · **To what, where:** chemical, message, others, me, Pheromones, pheromone trail · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pheromone is a chemical that an animal gives off to send a message to others of its own kind, such as «follow me», «danger» or «I am looking for a mate».

<!-- fold The tree, 32 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pheromone:m1:1
# text = A pheromone is a chemical that an animal gives off to send a message to others of its own kind, such as «follow me», «danger» or «I am looking for a mate».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pheromone	pheromone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	chemical	chemical	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	obj	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	off	off	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	send	send	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
19	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
22	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=SCONJ	25	mark	_	_
23	as	as	ADP	IN	_	22	fixed	_	_
24	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	follow	follow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	conj	_	_
26	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	25	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
29	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	30	punct	_	_
32	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	36	cc	_	_
33	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	36	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	36	nsubj	_	_
35	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	36	aux	_	_
36	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	30	conj	_	_
37	for	for	ADP	IN	_	39	case	_	_
38	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	39	det	_	_
39	mate	mate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	36	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
40	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
41	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a pheromone | a chemical |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give off** | present | a animal | a chemical |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Source that=Theme |
| 3 | **send** | to-infinitive | a animal *not said here* | a message |  | others of animal's own kind |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent message=Theme to other=Destination |
| 4 | **follow** *in a quote* | infinitive | a animal *not said here* | me |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Theme |
| 5 | **look** *in a quote* | present · progressive | I |  |  |  |  | for a mate | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for mate=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pheromones are smelled or tasted by the other animals, not seen or heard.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pheromone:m2:1
# text = Pheromones are smelled or tasted by the other animals, not seen or heard.
1	Pheromones	pheromone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	smelled	smell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	tasted	taste	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	heard	hear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smell** | present · passive |  | Pheromones |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Stimulus |
| 2 | **taste** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by the other animals | vn stalk-35.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent by animal=Location |
| 3 | **not** **see** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **hear** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ants follow a pheromone trail from the nest to the crumbs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pheromone:x1:1
# text = Ants follow a pheromone trail from the nest to the crumbs.
1	Ants	ant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	follow	follow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	pheromone	pheromone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	trail	trail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	nest	nest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	crumbs	crumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | present | Ants | a pheromone trail |  | the nest |  | to the crumbs | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent trail=Theme from nest=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When a bee stings, it releases an alarm pheromone that warns other bees.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pheromone:x2:1
# text = When a bee stings, it releases an alarm pheromone that warns other bees.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	bee	bee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	stings	sting	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	releases	release	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	alarm	alarm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	pheromone	pheromone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	warns	warn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sting** | present | a bee |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **release** | present | bee | a alarm pheromone |  |  |  |  | vn free-10.6.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Causer pheromone=Source |
| 3 | **warn** *speech: warn* | present | a alarm pheromone |  | other bees |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent bee=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A male moth can smell a female's pheromone from a long way away.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pheromone:x3:1
# text = A male moth can smell a female's pheromone from a long way away.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	moth	moth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	smell	smell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	female	female	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	pheromone	pheromone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
14	away	away	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smell** | can | a male moth | a female's pheromone |  | a long way |  | away *property* | vn see-30.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer pheromone=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Farmers hang pheromone traps to catch pests.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pheromone:x4:1
# text = Farmers hang pheromone traps to catch pests.
1	Farmers	farmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hang	hang	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	pheromone	pheromone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	traps	trap	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	pests	pest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hang** | present | Farmers |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **trap** | present | pheromone |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **catch** | to-infinitive | pheromone *not said here* | pests |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pest=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wipe the ants' path with soapy water and the pheromone trail is broken.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pheromone:x5:1
# text = Wipe the ants' path with soapy water and the pheromone trail is broken.
1	Wipe	wipe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	ants	ant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	'	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	soapy	soapy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	pheromone	pheromone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	trail	trail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	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 ants's path |  |  |  | with soapy water | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent path=Source |
| 2 | **break** | present · passive |  | the pheromone trail |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists study pheromones to learn how animals talk without words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pheromone:x6:1
# text = Scientists study pheromones to learn how animals talk without words.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	study	study	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	pheromones	pheromone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	talk	talk	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	without	without	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | Scientists | pheromones |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pheromone=Topic |
| 2 | **learn** | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V what S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **talk** | present | animals |  |  |  |  | without words | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Queen bees use pheromones to keep the hive working together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pheromone:x7:1
# text = Queen bees use pheromones to keep the hive working together.
1	Queen	Queen	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	pheromones	pheromone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hive	hive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	working	work	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
10	together	together	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Queen bees | pheromones |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pheromone=Patient |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | Queen bees *not said here* | the hive |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **work together** | gerund | the hive *not said here* |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=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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