---
title: prehensile — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «prehensile» in the school dictionary: Prehensile means able to grip, hold or wrap around things, used about a body part such as a tail, foot, trunk or lip. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# prehensile

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Prehensile, Spider monkeys, prehensile tails, seahorse, chameleon, trunk · **What happens:** mean, grip, hold, wrap, use, have · **To what, where:** things, prehensile tails, branches, prehensile tail, seaweed, single peanut

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Prehensile means able to grip, hold or wrap around things, used about a body part such as a tail, foot, trunk or lip.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehensile:m1:1
# text = Prehensile means able to grip, hold or wrap around things, used about a body part such as a tail, foot, trunk or lip.
1	Prehensile	Prehensile	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	grip	grip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	wrap	wrap	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
10	around	around	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	acl	_	_
14	about	about	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
18	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	21	case	_	_
19	as	as	ADP	IN	_	18	fixed	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
25	trunk	trunk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	_
26	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	lip	lip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Prehensile |  |  |  |  | able *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **grip** | to-infinitive | Prehensile *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **hold** | infinitive | Prehensile *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **wrap** | infinitive | Prehensile *not said here* |  |  | things |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme around thing=Destination |
| 5 | **use** | participle |  | things *not said here* |  |  |  | about a body part such a tail and foot and trunk or lip | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spider monkeys have prehensile tails that can hold branches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehensile:x1:1
# text = Spider monkeys have prehensile tails that can hold branches.
1	Spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	monkeys	monkey	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	prehensile	prehensile	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	tails	tail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	branches	branch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Spider monkeys | prehensile tails |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tail=Patient |
| 2 | **hold** | can | prehensile tails | branches |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent branch=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A seahorse wraps its prehensile tail around seaweed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehensile:x2:1
# text = A seahorse wraps its prehensile tail around seaweed.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	seahorse	seahorse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wraps	wrap	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	prehensile	prehensile	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	around	around	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	seaweed	seaweed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wrap** | present | a seahorse | seahorse's prehensile tail |  | seaweed |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent tail=Theme around seaweed=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A chameleon uses its prehensile tail like an extra hand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehensile:x3:1
# text = A chameleon uses its prehensile tail like an extra hand.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chameleon	chameleon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	prehensile	prehensile	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | a chameleon | chameleon's prehensile tail |  |  |  | like a extra hand | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tail=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An elephant's trunk is prehensile; it can pick up a single peanut.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehensile:x4:1
# text = An elephant's trunk is prehensile; it can pick up a single peanut.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	elephant	elephant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	trunk	trunk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	prehensile	prehensile	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	pick	pick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	parataxis	_	_
11	up	up	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	single	single	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	peanut	peanut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a elephant's trunk |  |  |  |  | prehensile *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **pick up** | can | trunk | a single peanut |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent peanut=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The possum hung from the tree by its prehensile tail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehensile:x5:1
# text = The possum hung from the tree by its prehensile tail.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	possum	possum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hung	hang	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	prehensile	prehensile	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hang** | past | the possum |  |  | the tree |  | by possum's prehensile tail | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent by tail=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A giraffe's long prehensile tongue pulls leaves off branches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehensile:x6:1
# text = A giraffe's long prehensile tongue pulls leaves off branches.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	giraffe	giraffe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	prehensile	prehensile	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	tongue	tongue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	pulls	pull	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	off	off	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	branches	branch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull** | present | a giraffe's long prehensile tongue | leaves |  | branches |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent leaf=Theme off branch=Initial\_Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our thumbs make our hands prehensile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehensile:x7:1
# text = Our thumbs make our hands prehensile.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	thumbs	thumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	prehensile	prehensile	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Our thumbs | our hands |  |  |  | prehensile *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset hand=Product |

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**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.

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