---
title: reflex — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «reflex» in the school dictionary: A reflex is something your body does by itself, very quickly, without you deciding to, such as blinking when something flies at your eye or pulling your hand off a hot pan. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reflex/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [R](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/) / reflex

# reflex

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** reflex, body, you, something, Reflexes, reflex angle · **What happens:** be, do, decide, blink, fly, pull off · **To what, where:** something, eye, hand, angle, maths, face

<!-- .vabout -->
«reflex» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [reflex in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/reflex.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A reflex is something your body does by itself, very quickly, without you deciding to, such as blinking when something flies at your eye or pulling your hand off a hot pan.

<!-- fold The tree, 32 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reflex:m1:1
# text = A reflex is something your body does by itself, very quickly, without you deciding to, such as blinking when something flies at your eye or pulling your hand off a hot pan.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	reflex	reflex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	very	very	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	deciding	decide	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	parataxis	_	_
17	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=SCONJ	21	mark	_	_
20	as	as	ADP	IN	_	19	fixed	_	_
21	blinking	blink	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	conj	_	_
22	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	24	advmod	_	_
23	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	24	nsubj	_	_
24	flies	fly	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	21	advcl	_	_
25	at	at	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	27	nmod:poss	_	_
27	eye	eye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obl	_	_
28	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	pulling	pull	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	21	conj	_	_
30	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	31	nmod:poss	_	_
31	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obj	_	_
32	off	off	ADP	RP	_	29	compound:prt	_	_
33	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
34	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	35	amod	_	_
35	pan	pan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a reflex | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | present | your body |  |  |  |  | by body; quickly *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **decide** | gerund | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **blink** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn hiccup-40.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **fly** | present | something |  |  | your eye |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at eye=Location |
| 6 | **pull off** | gerund | you *not said here* | your hand |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
Reflexes are how quickly you can react: a goalkeeper with fast reflexes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reflex:m2:1
# text = Reflexes are how quickly you can react: a goalkeeper with fast reflexes.
1	Reflexes	reflex	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
4	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	react	react	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	goalkeeper	goalkeeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	reflexes	reflex	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can · present | Reflexes |  |  |  |  | a goalkeeper with fast reflexes *obl*; quickly, react *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In maths, a reflex angle is an angle bigger than 180 degrees but smaller than 360 degrees.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reflex:m3:1
# text = In maths, a reflex angle is an angle bigger than 180 degrees but smaller than 360 degrees.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	reflex	reflex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	angle	angle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	angle	angle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
11	than	than	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	180	180	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	degrees	degree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
14	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	conj	_	_
16	than	than	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	360	360	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	18	nummod	_	_
18	degrees	degree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I blinked as a reflex when the ball flew at my face.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reflex:x1:1
# text = I blinked as a reflex when the ball flew at my face.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	blinked	blink	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	reflex	reflex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blink** | past | I |  |  |  |  | as a reflex | vn hiccup-40.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **fly** | past | the ball |  |  | my face |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at face=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pulling your hand away from a hot plate is a reflex.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reflex:x2:1
# text = Pulling your hand away from a hot plate is a reflex.
1	Pulling	pull	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	csubj	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	plate	plate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	reflex	reflex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull away** | gerund |  | your hand |  | a hot plate |  | away *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Pulling | a reflex |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor tapped my knee and my leg kicked by itself.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reflex:x3:1
# text = The doctor tapped my knee and my leg kicked by itself.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tapped	tap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	leg	leg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	kicked	kick	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tap** | past | the doctor | my knee |  |  |  |  | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent knee=Location |
| 2 | **kick** | participle | my leg |  |  |  |  | by leg | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our goalkeeper has amazing reflexes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reflex:x4:1
# text = Our goalkeeper has amazing reflexes.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	goalkeeper	goalkeeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	amazing	amazing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	reflexes	reflex	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Our goalkeeper | amazing reflexes |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reflex=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A reflex angle is bigger than a straight line.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reflex:x5:1
# text = A reflex angle is bigger than a straight line.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	reflex	reflex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	angle	angle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a reflex angle |  |  |  |  | than a straight line; big *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An angle of 270 degrees is a reflex angle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reflex:x6:1
# text = An angle of 270 degrees is a reflex angle.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	angle	angle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	270	270	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	degrees	degree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	reflex	reflex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	angle	angle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a angle of 270 degrees | a reflex angle |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sneezing and coughing are reflexes that clear your nose and throat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reflex:x7:1
# text = Sneezing and coughing are reflexes that clear your nose and throat.
1	Sneezing	sneezing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	coughing	coughing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	reflexes	reflex	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	clear	clear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	throat	throat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | Sneezing reflexes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **clear** | present | Sneezing reflexes | your nose and throat |  |  |  |  | vn clear-10.3-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent nose=Source |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [reflector](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reflector/)
- next →: [refocus](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refocus/)
- ↑ back to [R in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/)