---
title: refraction — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «refraction» in the school dictionary: Refraction is the bending of light (or sound or water waves) when it passes from one material into another, like from air into water or glass. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# refraction

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Refraction, straw, pencil, Glasses, people, pool · **What happens:** be, pass, look, break, make, refract · **To what, where:** bending, one material, rainbow, sunlight, refraction, people

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Refraction is the bending of light (or sound or water waves) when it passes from one material into another, like from air into water or glass.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refraction:m1:1
# text = Refraction is the bending of light (or sound or water waves) when it passes from one material into another, like from air into water or glass.
1	Refraction	refraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	bending	bending	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	_
14	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	16	advmod	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	passes	pass	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
17	from	from	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	19	nummod	_	_
19	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
20	into	into	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
23	like	like	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	from	from	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
26	into	into	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	_
28	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Refraction | the bending |  |  |  | of light | tree rules |
| 2 | **pass** | present | Refraction |  |  | one material |  | into another; like 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 -->
Because of refraction, a straw in a glass of water looks bent or broken.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refraction:m2:1
# text = Because of refraction, a straw in a glass of water looks bent or broken.
1	Because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	3	case	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	refraction	refraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	straw	straw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	bent	bent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | a straw in a glass of water |  |  |  |  | because refraction; bent *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **break** | participle | a straw in a glass of water *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pencil in a glass of water looks bent because of refraction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refraction:x1:1
# text = A pencil in a glass of water looks bent because of refraction.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	bent	bent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
10	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	refraction	refraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | a pencil in a glass of water |  |  |  |  | bent *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Refraction of sunlight in raindrops makes a rainbow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refraction:x2:1
# text = Refraction of sunlight in raindrops makes a rainbow.
1	Refraction	refraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	raindrops	raindrop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rainbow	rainbow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Refraction of sunlight in raindrops | a rainbow |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset rainbow=Product |
| 2 | **refract** |  |  | sunlight in raindrops |  |  |  |  | nom refraction «phenomenon transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Glasses use refraction to help people see clearly.

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

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Glasses | refraction |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent refraction=Patient |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive | Glasses *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 -->
The pool looks shallower than it is because of refraction, so be careful before jumping in.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refraction:x4:1
# text = The pool looks shallower than it is because of refraction, so be careful before jumping in.
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	shallower	shallow	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	xcomp	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	refraction	refraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	cop	_	_
14	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
15	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	jumping	jump	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	advcl	_	_
17	in	in	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	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 | **is** | present | pool |  |  |  |  | than refraction | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | infinitive | the pool *not said here* |  |  |  |  | careful *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **jump in** | gerund | the pool *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A prism uses refraction to split white light into colours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refraction:x5:1
# text = A prism uses refraction to split white light into colours.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prism	prism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	refraction	refraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	split	split	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | a prism | refraction |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent refraction=Patient |
| 2 | **split** | to-infinitive | a prism *not said here* | white light |  |  |  | into colours *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent light=Patient into colour=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We did an experiment on refraction with a torch and a glass of water.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refraction:x6:1
# text = We did an experiment on refraction with a torch and a glass of water.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	refraction	refraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	torch	torch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | We | a experiment |  | refraction |  | with a torch and a glass of water | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent experiment=Eventuality |

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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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