---
title: puffer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «puffer» in the school dictionary: A pufferfish: a fish that can blow itself up into a ball, often covered in spikes, to scare away enemies; many are poisonous to eat. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# puffer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** fish, pufferfish, small device, train, person, puffer · **What happens:** blow up, cover, scare away, be, eat, puff · **To what, where:** pufferfish, ball, enemies, medicine, lungs, inhaler

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pufferfish: a fish that can blow itself up into a ball, often covered in spikes, to scare away enemies; many are poisonous to eat.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffer:m1:1
# text = A pufferfish: a fish that can blow itself up into a ball, often covered in spikes, to scare away enemies; many are poisonous to eat.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pufferfish	pufferfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	blow	blow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	8	obj	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
11	into	into	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	often	often	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	spikes	spike	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	scare	scare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
22	away	away	ADP	RP	_	21	compound:prt	_	_
23	enemies	enemy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	27	punct	_	_
25	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	nsubj	_	_
26	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	27	cop	_	_
27	poisonous	poisonous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
28	to	to	PART	TO	_	29	mark	_	_
29	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	27	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	27	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blow up** | can | a fish | pufferfish |  | a ball |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP.material PP.product»: agent=Agent itself=Material into ball=Product |
| 2 | **cover** | participle | a fish *not said here* |  |  |  |  | in spikes; often *property* | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent in spike=Theme |
| 3 | **scare away** | to-infinitive | a fish *not said here* | enemies |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus enemy=Experiencer |
| 4 | **is** | present | a pufferfish |  |  |  |  | poisonous *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **eat** | to-infinitive | a pufferfish *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, Australia, NZ — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An inhaler, a small device that puffs medicine into your lungs, used for asthma.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffer:m2:1
# text = An inhaler, a small device that puffs medicine into your lungs, used for asthma.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	inhaler	inhaler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	device	device	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	puffs	puff	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
10	into	into	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	lungs	lung	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	asthma	asthma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **puff** | present | a small device | medicine |  | your lungs |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location medicine=Source |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a inhaler *not said here* |  |  |  | for asthma | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A puffer jacket: a warm, padded coat with puffy stuffed sections.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffer:m3:1
# text = A puffer jacket: a warm, padded coat with puffy stuffed sections.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	puffer	puffer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	jacket	jacket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	padded	pad	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	puffy	puffy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
12	stuffed	stuff	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	amod	_	_
13	sections	section	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pad** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **stuff** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small steam boat or train that puffs smoke; a person who puffs.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffer:m4:1
# text = A small steam boat or train that puffs smoke; a person who puffs.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	steam	steam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	puffs	puff	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
13	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	puffs	puff	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **puff** | present | train | smoke |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location smoke=Source |
| 2 | **puff** | present | a person |  |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puffer blew itself up into a spiky ball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffer:x1:1
# text = The puffer blew itself up into a spiky ball.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puffer	puffer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	blew	blow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	3	obj	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	spiky	spiky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blow up** | past | the puffer | puffer |  | a spiky ball |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP.material PP.product»: agent=Agent itself=Material into ball=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Puffers are poisonous, so never eat one you catch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffer:x2:1
# text = Puffers are poisonous, so never eat one you catch.
1	Puffers	puffer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	poisonous	poisonous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	eat	eat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	obj	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	catch	catch	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Puffers |  |  |  |  | poisonous *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **eat** | infinitive |  | one |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Patient |
| 3 | **catch** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Jack uses his blue puffer when his asthma gets bad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffer:x3:1
# text = Jack uses his blue puffer when his asthma gets bad.
1	Jack	Jack	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	puffer	puffer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	asthma	asthma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
10	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Jack | Jack's blue puffer |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puffer=Patient |
| 2 | **get** | present | Jack's asthma |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Take your puffer on the school trip, just in case.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffer:x4:1
# text = Take your puffer on the school trip, just in case.
1	Take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	puffer	puffer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	just	just	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | imperative | you *not said here* | your puffer |  | the school trip |  | in case | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent puffer=Theme on trip=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My new puffer jacket is so warm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffer:x5:1
# text = My new puffer jacket is so warm.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	puffer	puffer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	jacket	jacket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My new puffer jacket |  |  |  |  | warm *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old steam puffer chugged up the Scottish coast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puffer:x6:1
# text = The old steam puffer chugged up the Scottish coast.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	steam	steam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	puffer	puffer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	chugged	chug	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	Scottish	Scottish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	coast	coast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chug up** | participle | the old steam puffer *not said here* | the Scottish coast |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=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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