---
title: plaque — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «plaque» in the school dictionary: A soft, sticky film of germs (bacteria) that forms on your teeth and causes tooth decay and gum disease if not brushed away. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plaque/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/) / plaque

# plaque

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** soft sticky film, Brushing, Plaque, pink tablet, Sugary drinks, blue plaque · **What happens:** form, cause, not brush away, film, fix, remember · **To what, where:** teeth, tooth decay, germs, person, plaque, sticky layer · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A soft, sticky film of germs (bacteria) that forms on your teeth and causes tooth decay and gum disease if not brushed away.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaque:m1:1
# text = A soft, sticky film of germs (bacteria) that forms on your teeth and causes tooth decay and gum disease if not brushed away.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	sticky	sticky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	bacteria	bacterium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	forms	form	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
18	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	decay	decay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	gum	gum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	disease	disease	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	_
23	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
24	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	25	advmod	_	_
25	brushed	brush	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	advcl	_	_
26	away	away	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **form** | present | a soft sticky film of germs |  |  | your teeth |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on tooth=Location |
| 2 | **cause** | present | a soft sticky film of germs *not said here* | tooth decay and gum disease |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition decay=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **brush away** *a condition, not said to happen* | participle | a soft sticky film of germs *not said here* |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **film** |  |  | germs |  |  |  |  | nom film «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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 -->
A flat piece of metal, stone or wood with writing on it, fixed to a wall to remember a person or event, or given as a prize.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaque:m2:1
# text = A flat piece of metal, stone or wood with writing on it, fixed to a wall to remember a person or event, or given as a prize.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	fixed	fix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	parataxis	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	remember	remember	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	advcl	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
26	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	acl	_	_
28	as	as	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fix** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | to a wall | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent to wall=Co-Patient |
| 2 | **remember** | to-infinitive |  | a person or event |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent person=Theme |
| 3 | **give** | participle |  | a person or event *not said here* |  |  |  | as a prize | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fatty build-up inside blood vessels (in medicine).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaque:m3:1
# text = A fatty build-up inside blood vessels (in medicine).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	fatty	fatty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
3	build	build	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	vessels	vessel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Brushing your teeth removes plaque.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaque:x1:1
# text = Brushing your teeth removes plaque.
1	Brushing	brush	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	csubj	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	removes	remove	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	plaque	plaque	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **brush** | gerund |  | your teeth |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent tooth=Theme |
| 2 | **remove** | present | Brushing | plaque |  |  |  |  | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plaque=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plaque is a sticky layer of germs on your teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaque:x2:1
# text = Plaque is a sticky layer of germs on your teeth.
1	Plaque	plaque	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	sticky	sticky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Plaque | a sticky layer |  |  |  | of germs on your teeth | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pink tablet showed where plaque was hiding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaque:x3:1
# text = The pink tablet showed where plaque was hiding.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	pink	pink	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tablet	tablet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	advmod	_	_
6	plaque	plaque	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	hiding	hide	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the pink tablet |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **hide** | past · progressive | plaque |  |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sugary drinks help plaque make holes in your teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaque:x4:1
# text = Sugary drinks help plaque make holes in your teeth.
1	Sugary	sugary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	drinks	drink	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	plaque	plaque	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	holes	hole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Sugary drinks | plaque |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent plaque=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | infinitive | plaque *not said here* | holes |  | your teeth |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset hole=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A blue plaque says a famous writer lived in this house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaque:x5:1
# text = A blue plaque says a famous writer lived in this house.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	plaque	plaque	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	writer	writer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | a blue plaque |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **live** | past | a famous writer |  |  | this house |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in house=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team got a silver plaque for winning the cup.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaque:x6:1
# text = The team got a silver plaque for winning the cup.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	silver	silver	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	plaque	plaque	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	winning	win	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	cup	cup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | the team | a silver plaque |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer plaque=Stimulus |
| 2 | **win** | gerund | the team *not said here* | the cup |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cup=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There's a plaque on the bridge saying when it was built.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaque:x7:1
# text = There's a plaque on the bridge saying when it was built.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	plaque	plaque	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a plaque on the bridge |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | the bridge *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **build** | past · passive |  | plaque |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [planted](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/planted/)
- next →: [plasma](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plasma/)
- ↑ back to [P in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/)