---
title: puffball — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «puffball» in the school dictionary: A round fungus (mushroom) without a cap or stalk, white or brown, that bursts and puffs out a cloud of spores like dust when it is old. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# puffball

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** round fungus, fungus, I, brown cloud, We, Puffballs · **What happens:** burst, puff out, be, cloud, step, come out · **To what, where:** cloud, spores, puffball, giant puffball, field, wind

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A round fungus (mushroom) without a cap or stalk, white or brown, that bursts and puffs out a cloud of spores like dust when it is old.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffball:m1:1
# text = A round fungus (mushroom) without a cap or stalk, white or brown, that bursts and puffs out a cloud of spores like dust when it is old.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	round	round	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fungus	fungus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
4	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	mushroom	mushroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
7	without	without	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cap	cap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	stalk	stalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	bursts	burst	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	puffs	puff	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	conj	_	_
21	out	out	ADP	RP	_	20	compound:prt	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	cloud	cloud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
24	of	of	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	spores	spore	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	nmod	_	_
26	like	like	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	dust	dust	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	_
28	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	31	mark	_	_
29	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	31	nsubj	_	_
30	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	31	cop	_	_
31	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **burst** | present | a round fungus without a cap or stalk |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **puff out** | present | a round fungus without a cap or stalk *not said here* | a cloud of spores like dust |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location cloud=Source |
| 3 | **is** | present | fungus |  |  |  |  | old *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **cloud** |  |  | spores like dust |  |  |  |  | nom cloud «phenomenon 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 -->
Anything round, soft and fluffy, like a dandelion clock or a fluffy chick (informal).

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffball:m2:1
# text = Anything round, soft and fluffy, like a dandelion clock or a fluffy chick (informal).
1	Anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	round	round	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	fluffy	fluffy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	dandelion	dandelion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	fluffy	fluffy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	chick	chick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
16	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When I stepped on the puffball, a brown cloud of spores came out.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffball:x1:1
# text = When I stepped on the puffball, a brown cloud of spores came out.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stepped	step	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	advcl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	puffball	puffball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	cloud	cloud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	spores	spore	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	_
13	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	out	out	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **step** | past | I |  |  | the puffball |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on puffball=Trajectory |
| 2 | **come out** | past | a brown cloud of spores |  |  |  |  | out *property* | vn become-109.1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **cloud** |  |  | spores |  |  |  |  | nom cloud «phenomenon transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We found a giant puffball in the field.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffball:x2:1
# text = We found a giant puffball in the field.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	puffball	puffball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	field	field	NOUN	NN	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 | **find** | past | We | a giant puffball |  | the field |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puffball=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Puffballs spread their spores in the wind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffball:x3:1
# text = Puffballs spread their spores in the wind.
1	Puffballs	puffball	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spread	spread	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	spores	spore	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	wind	wind	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 | **spread** | present | Puffballs | Puffballs's spores |  | the wind |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent spore=Theme in wind=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kitten was a tiny white puffball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffball:x4:1
# text = The kitten was a tiny white puffball.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	puffball	puffball	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** | past | the kitten | a tiny white puffball |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never eat a wild puffball unless an expert checks it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffball:x5:1
# text = Never eat a wild puffball unless an expert checks it.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	eat	eat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	puffball	puffball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	unless	unless	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	expert	expert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	checks	check	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **eat** | imperative | you *not said here* | a wild puffball |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puffball=Patient |
| 2 | **check** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | a expert | puffball |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Puffballs have no gills like other mushrooms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffball:x6:1
# text = Puffballs have no gills like other mushrooms.
1	Puffballs	puffball	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	mushrooms	mushroom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Puffballs | no gills |  |  |  | like other mushrooms | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gill=Patient |

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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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