---
title: prism — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «prism» in the school dictionary: A solid shape with two ends that are the same flat shape and parallel, joined by flat sides (rectangles in a right prism). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# prism

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** that, triangular prism, cereal box, prism, you, end area · **What happens:** be, join, bend, split, have, find · **To what, where:** same flat shape, light, white light, rainbow, 5 faces, rectangular prism

<!-- .vabout -->
«prism» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [prism in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/prism.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A solid shape with two ends that are the same flat shape and parallel, joined by flat sides (rectangles in a right prism).

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prism:m1:1
# text = A solid shape with two ends that are the same flat shape and parallel, joined by flat sides (rectangles in a right prism).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	solid	solid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	ends	end	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	parallel	parallel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl	_	_
17	by	by	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	sides	side	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	_
20	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	rectangles	rectangle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	appos	_	_
22	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	prism	prism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | that | the same flat shape and parallel |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **join** | participle |  | the same flat shape and parallel *not said here* |  |  |  | by flat sides | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=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 block of glass or clear plastic, often a triangular one, that bends light and splits white light into a rainbow of colours.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prism:m2:1
# text = A block of glass or clear plastic, often a triangular one, that bends light and splits white light into a rainbow of colours.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	block	block	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	triangular	triangular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	bends	bend	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	parataxis	_	_
16	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	splits	split	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	conj	_	_
19	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
21	into	into	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	rainbow	rainbow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
24	of	of	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bend** | present | that | light |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent light=Material |
| 2 | **split** | present | that *not said here* | white light |  |  |  | into a rainbow of colours *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent light=Patient into rainbow=Result |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A triangular prism has 5 faces, 9 edges and 6 vertices.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prism:x1:1
# text = A triangular prism has 5 faces, 9 edges and 6 vertices.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	triangular	triangular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	prism	prism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	faces	face	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	9	9	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	edges	edge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	vertices	vertice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a triangular prism | 5 faces and 9 edges and 6 vertices |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent face=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cereal box is a rectangular prism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prism:x2:1
# text = A cereal box is a rectangular prism.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cereal	cereal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	rectangular	rectangular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	prism	prism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cereal box | a rectangular prism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prism split the sunlight into a rainbow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prism:x3:1
# text = The prism split the sunlight into a rainbow.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prism	prism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	split	split	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	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rainbow	rainbow	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 | **split** | past | the prism | the sunlight |  |  |  | into a rainbow *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent sunlight=Patient into rainbow=Result |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Find the volume of the prism: the end area is 6 square cm and the length is 10 cm.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prism:x4:1
# text = Find the volume of the prism: the end area is 6 square cm and the length is 10 cm.
1	Find	find	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	volume	volume	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	prism	prism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
12	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
13	square	square	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	cm	cm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	length	length	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
19	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	20	nummod	_	_
20	cm	cm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | imperative | you *not said here* | the volume of the prism |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent volume=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the end area | 6 square cm and 10 cm |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | present | the length | 10 cm |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A Toblerone box is shaped like a triangular prism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prism:x5:1
# text = A Toblerone box is shaped like a triangular prism.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Toblerone	Toblerone	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	triangular	triangular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	prism	prism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | present · passive |  | a Toblerone box |  |  |  | like a triangular prism | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We shone a torch through the prism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prism:x6:1
# text = We shone a torch through the prism.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shone	shine	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	torch	torch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	prism	prism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shine** | past | We | a torch |  | the prism |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent torch=Theme |

<!-- 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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