---
title: pufferfish — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pufferfish» in the school dictionary: A pufferfish is a fish that can quickly swallow water to blow itself up into a big, round, often spiky ball to scare off predators. Many kinds are very poisonous. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pufferfish

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pufferfish, fish, Many kinds, Many pufferfish, licensed chefs, male pufferfish · **What happens:** be, swallow, blow up, scare off, eat, license · **To what, where:** fish, water, big spiky ball, predators, pufferfish, spiky ball

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pufferfish is a fish that can quickly swallow water to blow itself up into a big, round, often spiky ball to scare off predators. Many kinds are very poisonous.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A pufferfish is a fish that can quickly swallow water to blow itself up into a big, round, often spiky ball to scare off predators.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pufferfish:m1:1
# text = A pufferfish is a fish that can quickly swallow water to blow itself up into a big, round, often spiky ball to scare off predators.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pufferfish	pufferfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	swallow	swallow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	blow	blow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
13	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	12	obj	_	_
14	up	up	ADP	RP	_	12	compound:prt	_	_
15	into	into	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
17	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	round	round	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
21	often	often	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	spiky	spiky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
24	to	to	PART	TO	_	25	mark	_	_
25	scare	scare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
26	off	off	ADP	RP	_	25	compound:prt	_	_
27	predators	predator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a pufferfish | a fish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **swallow** | can | a fish | water |  |  |  | quickly *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **blow up** | to-infinitive | a fish *not said here* | water |  | a big spiky ball |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP.material PP.product»: agent=Agent itself=Material into ball=Product |
| 4 | **scare off** | to-infinitive | a fish *not said here* | predators |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus predator=Experiencer |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Many kinds are very poisonous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pufferfish:m1:2
# text = Many kinds are very poisonous.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	kinds	kind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	poisonous	poisonous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pufferfish:x1:1
# text = The pufferfish blew itself up into a spiky ball.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pufferfish	pufferfish	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 pufferfish | pufferfish |  | 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 -->
Many pufferfish are poisonous to eat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pufferfish:x2:1
# text = Many pufferfish are poisonous to eat.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	pufferfish	pufferfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	poisonous	poisonous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Many pufferfish |  |  |  |  | poisonous *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** | to-infinitive | Many pufferfish *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Japan, only licensed chefs may prepare pufferfish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pufferfish:x3:1
# text = In Japan, only licensed chefs may prepare pufferfish.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Japan	Japan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	licensed	license	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	chefs	chef	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
7	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	prepare	prepare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	pufferfish	pufferfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **license** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn patent-101 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **prepare** | may | licensed chefs | pufferfish |  | Japan |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pufferfish=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A male pufferfish drew a circle pattern in the sand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pufferfish:x4:1
# text = A male pufferfish drew a circle pattern in the sand.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pufferfish	pufferfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	circle	circle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | past | a male pufferfish | a circle pattern |  | the sand |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent pattern=Theme in sand=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Puffing up makes the pufferfish too big for most predators to swallow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pufferfish:x5:1
# text = Puffing up makes the pufferfish too big for most predators to swallow.
1	Puffing	puff	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	csubj	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pufferfish	pufferfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
8	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
9	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	10	amod	_	_
10	predators	predator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	swallow	swallow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **puff up** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |
| 2 | **make** | present | Puffing | the pufferfish |  |  |  | big *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset pufferfish=Product |
| 3 | **swallow** | to-infinitive | most predators |  |  |  |  |  | vn hiccup-40.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a pufferfish while snorkelling in Australia.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pufferfish:x6:1
# text = We saw a pufferfish while snorkelling in Australia.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	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	pufferfish	pufferfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	snorkelling	snorkelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a pufferfish |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer pufferfish=Stimulus |

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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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