---
title: pierce — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pierce» in the school dictionary: To make a hole in or through something with a sharp point. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pierce

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** piercing eyes, needle, She, ears, scream, arrow · **What happens:** make, have, wear, go, pierce, seem · **To what, where:** hole, body part, jewellery, something, cloth, ears

<!-- .vabout -->
«pierce» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [pierce in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pierce.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make a hole in or through something with a sharp point.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:m1:1
# text = To make a hole in or through something with a sharp point.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	through	through	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	conj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a hole |  |  |  | with a sharp point | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset hole=Product |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"The needle pierced the cloth."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:m1e:1
# text = "The needle pierced the cloth."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	needle	needle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	pierced	pierce	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pierce** *in a quote* | past | the needle | the cloth |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cloth=Patient |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To have a hole made in a body part to wear jewellery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:m2:1
# text = To have a hole made in a body part to wear jewellery.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	wear	wear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl	_	_
12	jewellery	jewellery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | to-infinitive |  | a hole |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hole=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a hole *not said here* |  | a body part |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **wear** | to-infinitive |  | jewellery |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent jewellery=Source |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"She had her ears pierced."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:m2e:1
# text = "She had her ears pierced."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	pierced	pierce	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** *in a quote* | past | She | her ears |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pierce** *in a quote* | participle | her ears *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of light, sound or cold — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To suddenly go through something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:m3:1
# text = To suddenly go through something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | something |  | suddenly *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through something=Initial\_Location |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"A scream pierced the silence."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:m3e:1
# text = "A scream pierced the silence."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	scream	scream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	pierced	pierce	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	silence	silence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pierce** *in a quote* | participle | a scream | the silence |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent silence=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very loud and high, very sharp, or very cold; piercing eyes seem to look right through you.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:m4:1
# text = Very loud and high, very sharp, or very cold; piercing eyes seem to look right through you.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	very	very	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	piercing	pierce	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	amod	_	_
14	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
15	seem	seem	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	_
18	right	right	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
19	through	through	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pierce** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **seem** | present | piercing eyes |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 3 | **look** | to-infinitive | piercing eyes *not said here* |  |  |  |  | through you; right *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent through you=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The arrow pierced the target.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:x1:1
# text = The arrow pierced the target.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	arrow	arrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pierced	pierce	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	target	target	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pierce** | past | the arrow | the target |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent target=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She got her ears pierced for her birthday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:x2:1
# text = She got her ears pierced for her birthday.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	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	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	pierced	pierce	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	xcomp	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | She | her ears |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pierce** | participle | her ears *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for her birthday | vn poke-19-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A whistle pierced the air.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:x3:1
# text = A whistle pierced the air.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	whistle	whistle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	pierced	pierce	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pierce** | participle | a whistle *not said here* | the air |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent air=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sunlight pierced the clouds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:x4:1
# text = Sunlight pierced the clouds.
1	Sunlight	Sunlight	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pierced	pierce	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pierce** | past | Sunlight | the clouds |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cloud=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A thorn pierced his finger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:x5:1
# text = A thorn pierced his finger.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thorn	thorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	pierced	pierce	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pierce** | participle | a thorn *not said here* | his finger |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent finger=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wind was piercing on the hill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:x6:1
# text = The wind was piercing on the hill.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	piercing	pierce	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pierce** | past · progressive | the wind |  |  | the hill |  |  | vn poke-19-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her piercing blue eyes stared at me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:x7:1
# text = Her piercing blue eyes stared at me.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	piercing	piercing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	stared	stare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stare** | past | Her piercing blue eyes |  |  |  |  | at me | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at i=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Immediately afterward they heard a sharp, piercing cry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pierce:x8:1
# text = Immediately afterward they heard a sharp, piercing cry.
1	Immediately	immediately	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	afterward	afterward	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
3	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	piercing	pierce	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	amod	_	_
9	cry	cry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | they | a sharp piercing cry |  |  |  | afterward, immediately *property* | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer cry=Stimulus |
| 2 | **pierce** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1 «NP V NP»: 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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