---
title: prickly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «prickly» in the school dictionary: Covered in sharp points or prickles, like a hedgehog, cactus or holly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# prickly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** hedgehog, foxes, you, cactus, wool jumper, Grandad · **What happens:** cover, give, sting, tingle, deal, cause · **To what, where:** arguments, hedgehog, neck, prickly subject, prickly heat, holiday

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Covered in sharp points or prickles, like a hedgehog, cactus or holly.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prickly:m1:1
# text = Covered in sharp points or prickles, like a hedgehog, cactus or holly.
1	Covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	points	point	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	prickles	prickle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	hedgehog	hedgehog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	cactus	cactus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	holly	holly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cover** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | in sharp points or prickles and a hedgehog and cactus or holly | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent in point=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 -->
Giving a stinging or tingling feeling: a prickly jumper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prickly:m2:1
# text = Giving a stinging or tingling feeling: a prickly jumper.
1	Giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
3	stinging	sting	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	amod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	tingling	tingle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
6	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	prickly	prickly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	jumper	jumper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **sting** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **tingle** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn tingle-40.8.2 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of a person — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Easily annoyed or upset; grumpy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prickly:m3:1
# text = Easily annoyed or upset; grumpy.
1	Easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	annoyed	annoyed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	upset	upset	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
6	grumpy	grumpy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of a problem — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hard to deal with and likely to cause arguments.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prickly:m4:1
# text = Hard to deal with and likely to cause arguments.
1	Hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	deal	deal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	3	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	arguments	argument	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deal** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cope-83 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **cause** | to-infinitive |  | arguments |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition argument=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hedgehog is prickly so foxes leave it alone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prickly:x1:1
# text = The hedgehog is prickly so foxes leave it alone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hedgehog	hedgehog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	prickly	prickly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	foxes	fox	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	leave	leave	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	alone	alone	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the hedgehog |  |  |  |  | prickly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **leave** | present | foxes | hedgehog |  |  |  | alone *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be careful, the cactus is very prickly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prickly:x2:1
# text = Be careful, the cactus is very prickly.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cactus	cactus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	prickly	prickly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | careful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | the cactus |  |  |  |  | prickly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This wool jumper feels prickly on my neck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prickly:x3:1
# text = This wool jumper feels prickly on my neck.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
2	wool	wool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	jumper	jumper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	feels	feel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	prickly	prickly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | present | this wool jumper |  |  | my neck |  | prickly *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad gets prickly when he is tired.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prickly:x4:1
# text = Grandad gets prickly when he is tired.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	prickly	prickly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | Grandad |  |  |  |  | prickly *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present | Grandad |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Money can be a prickly subject.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prickly:x5:1
# text = Money can be a prickly subject.
1	Money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	prickly	prickly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | Money | a prickly subject |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Holly leaves are prickly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prickly:x6:1
# text = Holly leaves are prickly.
1	Holly	Holly	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	prickly	prickly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Holly leaves |  |  |  |  | prickly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She got prickly heat on holiday in Spain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prickly:x7:1
# text = She got prickly heat on holiday in Spain.
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	prickly	prickly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	holiday	holiday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Spain	Spain	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	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 | prickly heat |  | holiday |  | in Spain | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent heat=Theme on holiday=Source |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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