---
title: radioactivity — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «radioactivity» in the school dictionary: Radioactivity is the giving off of invisible energy, called radiation, by the centres (nuclei) of some unstable atoms as they break down. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# radioactivity

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Radioactivity, atoms, something, Marie, Geiger counter, counter · **What happens:** give off, call, break down, be, study, discover · **To what, where:** invisible energy, radiation, measure, radioactivity, radium, living cells · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«radioactivity» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [radioactivity in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/radioactivity.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Radioactivity is the giving off of invisible energy, called radiation, by the centres (nuclei) of some unstable atoms as they break down.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:radioactivity:m1:1
# text = Radioactivity is the giving off of invisible energy, called radiation, by the centres (nuclei) of some unstable atoms as they break down.
1	Radioactivity	radioactivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	off	off	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	invisible	invisible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	_
11	radiation	radiation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	by	by	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	centres	centre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
16	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	nuclei	nucleus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	17	punct	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	22	det	_	_
21	unstable	unstable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	atoms	atom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nmod	_	_
23	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
24	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
25	break	break	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
26	down	down	ADP	RP	_	25	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give off** | present · progressive | Radioactivity | invisible energy |  |  |  | by the centres of some unstable atoms | vn substance\_emission-43.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Source energy=Theme |
| 2 | **call** | participle | Radioactivity *not said here* | radiation |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **break down** | present | atoms *= atom* |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient 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 -->
Radioactivity is also a measure of how much of this radiation something gives off.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:radioactivity:m2:1
# text = Radioactivity is also a measure of how much of this radiation something gives off.
1	Radioactivity	radioactivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	measure	measure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
8	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	radiation	radiation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	nsubj	_	_
13	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	off	off	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Radioactivity | a measure |  |  |  | of much of this radiation | tree rules |
| 2 | **give off** | present | something | this radiation *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Source radiation=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Marie Curie studied radioactivity and discovered radium and polonium.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:radioactivity:x1:1
# text = Marie Curie studied radioactivity and discovered radium and polonium.
1	Marie	Marie	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Curie	Curie	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	studied	study	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	radioactivity	radioactivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	discovered	discover	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	radium	radium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	polonium	polonium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | past | Marie | radioactivity |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent radioactivity=Topic |
| 2 | **discover** | past | Marie *not said here* | radium and polonium |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent radium=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A Geiger counter clicks when it detects radioactivity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:radioactivity:x2:1
# text = A Geiger counter clicks when it detects radioactivity.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Geiger	geiger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	counter	counter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	clicks	click	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	detects	detect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	radioactivity	radioactivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **click** | present | a Geiger counter |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **detect** | present | counter | radioactivity |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer radioactivity=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
High levels of radioactivity can damage living cells.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:radioactivity:x3:1
# text = High levels of radioactivity can damage living cells.
1	High	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	levels	level	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	radioactivity	radioactivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	damage	damage	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	cells	cell	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 | **damage** | can | High levels of radioactivity | living cells |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cell=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bananas have a tiny, harmless amount of radioactivity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:radioactivity:x4:1
# text = Bananas have a tiny, harmless amount of radioactivity.
1	Bananas	banana	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	radioactivity	radioactivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Bananas | a tiny harmless amount of radioactivity |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent amount=Patient |
| 2 | **amount** |  |  | radioactivity |  |  |  |  | nom amount «possession transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the Chernobyl accident, radioactivity spread over a wide area.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:radioactivity:x5:1
# text = After the Chernobyl accident, radioactivity spread over a wide area.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	Chernobyl	Chernobyl	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	radioactivity	radioactivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	over	over	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | past | radioactivity |  |  | a wide area | after the Chernobyl accident |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over area=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists use radioactivity to date very old objects.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:radioactivity:x6:1
# text = Scientists use radioactivity to date very old objects.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	radioactivity	radioactivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	date	date	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	advcl	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	objects	object	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Scientists | radioactivity |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The yellow warning sign means radioactivity is present.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:radioactivity:x7:1
# text = The yellow warning sign means radioactivity is present.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	warning	warning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	radioactivity	radioactivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	present	present	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the yellow warning sign |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | radioactivity |  |  |  |  | present *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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