---
title: refract — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «refract» in the school dictionary: To refract light is to bend it as it passes from one material into another, such as from air into water or glass. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# refract

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** light, Sound, Water, straw, prism, Glasses lenses · **What happens:** refract, be, pass, change, look, help · **To what, where:** light, one material, speed, white light, rainbow, people

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To refract light is to bend it as it passes from one material into another, such as from air into water or glass.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refract:m1:1
# text = To refract light is to bend it as it passes from one material into another, such as from air into water or glass.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	refract	refract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	bend	bend	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	passes	pass	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
11	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	into	into	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	20	case	_	_
18	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	fixed	_	_
19	from	from	ADP	IN	_	17	fixed	_	_
20	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
21	into	into	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refract** | to-infinitive |  | light |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent light=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | bend *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **pass** | present | light |  |  | one material |  | into another; such air; into water or glass | vn escape-51.1-1-3 «NP V PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Theme from material=Initial\_Location into another=Destination |

<!-- .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 -->
Sound and other waves can also refract when they change speed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refract:m2:1
# text = Sound and other waves can also refract when they change speed.
1	Sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
3	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	refract	refract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	change	change	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
11	speed	speed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refract** | can | Sound and other waves |  |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **change** | present | Sound | speed |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent speed=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Water refracts light, so the straw looks bent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refract:x1:1
# text = Water refracts light, so the straw looks bent.
1	Water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	refracts	refract	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	straw	straw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	bent	bent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refract** | present | Water | light |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent light=Patient |
| 2 | **look** | present | the straw |  |  |  |  | bent *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A prism refracts white light into a rainbow of colours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refract:x2:1
# text = A prism refracts white light into a rainbow of colours.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prism	prism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	refracts	refract	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rainbow	rainbow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refract** | present | a prism | white light |  | a rainbow of colours |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent light=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Glasses lenses refract light to help people see clearly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refract:x3:1
# text = Glasses lenses refract light to help people see clearly.
1	Glasses	glass	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	compound	_	_
2	lenses	lens	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	refract	refract	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refract** | present | Glasses lenses | light |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent light=Patient |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive | Glasses lenses *not said here* | people |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent people=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **see** | infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  | clearly *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Raindrops refract and reflect sunlight to make rainbows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refract:x4:1
# text = Raindrops refract and reflect sunlight to make rainbows.
1	Raindrops	raindrop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	refract	refract	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	reflect	reflect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
8	rainbows	rainbow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refract** | present | Raindrops |  |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **reflect** | present | Raindrops *not said here* | sunlight |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive | Raindrops *not said here* | rainbows |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset rainbow=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pool looks shallow because water refracts the light.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refract:x5:1
# text = The pool looks shallow because water refracts the light.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	shallow	shallow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	refracts	refract	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | the pool |  |  |  |  | shallow *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **refract** | present | water | the light |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent light=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Light refracts when it goes from air into glass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refract:x6:1
# text = Light refracts when it goes from air into glass.
1	Light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	refracts	refract	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	5	mark	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refract** | present | Light |  |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **go** | present | Light |  |  | air |  | into glass | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Theme from air=Initial\_Location into glass=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Draw how the light ray refracts at the surface.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refract:x7:1
# text = Draw how the light ray refracts at the surface.
1	Draw	draw	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	ray	ray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	refracts	refract	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	surface	surface	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **refract** | present | the light ray |  |  | the surface |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent |

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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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