---
title: retard — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «retard» in the school dictionary: To slow down or delay something: to retard growth, fire-retardant material. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# retard

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, Cold weather, plants, retardant pyjamas, Salt, word · **What happens:** slow down, delay, retard, think, not use, grow · **To what, where:** something, growth, disability, curtains, fire, rotting · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«retard» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 5 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: [retard in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/retard.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To slow down or delay something: to retard growth, fire-retardant material.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retard:m1:1
# text = To slow down or delay something: to retard growth, fire-retardant material.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	slow	slow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	down	down	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	delay	delay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	retard	retard	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	growth	growth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	retardant	retardant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slow down** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **delay** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent something=Source |
| 3 | **retard** | to-infinitive |  | growth and retardant material |  |  |  |  | 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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A very hurtful insult for a person with a learning disability or for someone thought stupid — never use it.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retard:m2:1
# text = A very hurtful insult for a person with a learning disability or for someone thought stupid — never use it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	hurtful	hurtful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	insult	insult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	learning	learning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	disability	disability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	nsubj	_	_
15	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
16	stupid	stupid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	xcomp	_	_
17	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
18	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
19	use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | someone |  |  |  |  | stupid *property* | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **use** | infinitive |  | disability |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cold weather retards the growth of plants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retard:x1:1
# text = Cold weather retards the growth of plants.
1	Cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	retards	retard	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	growth	growth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **retard** | present | Cold weather | the growth of plants |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** |  | plants |  |  |  |  |  | nom growth «process intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The curtains are treated to retard fire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retard:x2:1
# text = The curtains are treated to retard fire.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	curtains	curtain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	treated	treat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	retard	retard	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **treat** | present · passive |  | the curtains |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP to be ADJ»: subject=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **retard** | to-infinitive |  | fire |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fire-retardant pyjamas are safer for children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retard:x3:1
# text = Fire-retardant pyjamas are safer for children.
1	Fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	retardant	retardant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	pyjamas	pyjama	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	safer	safe	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | retardant pyjamas |  |  |  |  | for children; safe *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Salt can retard the rotting of meat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retard:x4:1
# text = Salt can retard the rotting of meat.
1	Salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	retard	retard	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rotting	rotting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	meat	meat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **retard** | can | Salt | the rotting of meat |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **rot** |  |  | meat |  |  |  |  | nom rotting «process transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(rude, a bully in a story) «Don't call him that word — it's cruel,» said the teacher.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retard:x5:1
# text = (rude, a bully in a story) «Don't call him that word — it's cruel,» said the teacher.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	call	call	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	23	ccomp	_	_
14	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	16	det	_	_
16	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
17	—	-	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
20	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	23	punct	_	_
23	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	23	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **call** *in a quote* | infinitive · do-support |  | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme word=Result |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | word |  |  |  |  | cruel *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- 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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