---
title: purr — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «purr» in the school dictionary: When a cat purrs, it makes a low, soft, rumbling sound in its throat, usually when it is happy. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# purr

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** cat, purr, machine, I, you, Lions · **What happens:** purr, make, rumble, be, feel, stroke · **To what, where:** low soft rumbling sound, throat, sound, quiet smooth humming sound, kitten, lap

<!-- .vabout -->
«purr» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [purr in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/purr.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When a cat purrs, it makes a low, soft, rumbling sound in its throat, usually when it is happy.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purr:m1:1
# text = When a cat purrs, it makes a low, soft, rumbling sound in its throat, usually when it is happy.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	4	mark	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	purrs	purr	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
9	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	rumbling	rumble	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	amod	_	_
14	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	throat	throat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
19	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
20	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	23	advmod	_	_
21	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj	_	_
22	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	cop	_	_
23	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **purr** | present | a cat |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | present | cat | a low soft rumbling sound |  | cat's throat |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.material V NP»: agent=Material sound=Product |
| 3 | **rumble** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **is** | present | cat |  |  |  |  | happy, usually *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 purr is that sound.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purr:m2:1
# text = A purr is that sound.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	purr	purr	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A machine such as an engine purrs when it makes a quiet, smooth humming sound.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purr:m3:1
# text = A machine such as an engine purrs when it makes a quiet, smooth humming sound.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	6	case	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	3	fixed	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	purrs	purr	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
12	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
14	smooth	smooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	humming	humming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **purr** | present | a machine such a engine |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | present | machine | a quiet smooth humming sound |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.material V NP»: agent=Material sound=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kitten purred on my lap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purr:x1:1
# text = The kitten purred on my lap.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	purred	purr	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	lap	lap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **purr** | participle |  | the kitten *not said here* |  | my lap |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on lap=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I could feel the cat's purr when I stroked her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purr:x2:1
# text = I could feel the cat's purr when I stroked her.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	purr	purr	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
9	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	stroked	stroke	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
11	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | could | I | the cat's purr |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent purr=Theme |
| 2 | **stroke** | past | I | cat |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Experiencer |
| 3 | **purr** |  | the cat |  |  |  |  |  | nom purr «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our cat purrs whenever you scratch behind her ears.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purr:x3:1
# text = Our cat purrs whenever you scratch behind her ears.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	purrs	purr	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	whenever	whenever	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	6	advmod	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	scratch	scratch	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **purr** | present | Our cat |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **scratch** | present | you |  |  | cat's ears |  | whenever *property* | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent behind ear=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new car's engine purred quietly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purr:x4:1
# text = The new car's engine purred quietly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	purred	purr	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **purr** | participle |  | the new car's engine *not said here* |  |  |  | quietly *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lions cannot purr, but they can roar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purr:x5:1
# text = Lions cannot purr, but they can roar.
1	Lions	lion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	purr	purr	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	roar	roar	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **purr** | can | Lions |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **roar** | can | Lions *= lion* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She heard a gentle purr from under the blanket.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purr:x6:1
# text = She heard a gentle purr from under the blanket.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	purr	purr	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	under	under	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	blanket	blanket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | She | a gentle purr |  | the blanket |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent purr=Topic from blanket=Source |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat purred loudly and closed its eyes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purr:x7:1
# text = The cat purred loudly and closed its eyes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	purred	purr	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	loudly	loudly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
6	closed	close	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **purr** | participle |  | the cat *not said here* |  |  |  | loudly *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **close** | past | the cat | cat's eyes |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent eye=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Nay,” purred Bagheera, “that may not be.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purr:x8:1
# text = “Nay,” purred Bagheera, “that may not be.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Nay	nay	INTJ	UH	_	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
5	purred	purr	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	Bagheera	Bagheera	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	12	nsubj	_	_
10	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	be	be	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **purr** | participle |  | Bagheera |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bagheera=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **be** *in a quote* | may | that |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «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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