---
title: semiconductor — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «semiconductor» in the school dictionary: A material, such as silicon, that lets electricity flow through it better than an insulator but not as well as a metal, and whose flow can be controlled. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# semiconductor

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** material, Silicon, phone, semiconductor, Solar panels, shortage · **What happens:** let, flow, control, make, use, be · **To what, where:** silicon, flow, device, such material, computers, common semiconductor

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A material, such as silicon, that lets electricity flow through it better than an insulator but not as well as a metal, and whose flow can be controlled.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semiconductor:m1:1
# text = A material, such as silicon, that lets electricity flow through it better than an insulator but not as well as a metal, and whose flow can be controlled.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	6	case	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	silicon	silicon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	lets	let	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	electricity	electricity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	flow	flow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	through	through	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obl	_	_
14	better	well	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	11	advmod	_	_
15	than	than	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	insulator	insulator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
18	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	24	advmod	_	_
20	as	as	ADV	RB	ExtPos=CCONJ	24	cc	_	_
21	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	20	fixed	_	_
22	as	as	ADP	IN	_	20	fixed	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	31	cc	_	_
27	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	28	nmod:poss	_	_
28	flow	flow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	nsubj:pass	_	_
29	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	31	aux	_	_
30	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	31	aux:pass	_	_
31	controlled	control	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | present | a material and silicon |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **flow** | infinitive | a material and silicon *not said here* |  |  | silicon |  | well *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through it=Location |
| 3 | **control** | can · passive |  | flow |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
A device or chip made from such material, used in computers and phones.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semiconductor:m2:1
# text = A device or chip made from such material, used in computers and phones.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	device	device	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	chip	chip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	computers	computer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | a device or chip *not said here* |  | such material |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset from material=Material |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a device or chip *not said here* |  | computers and phones |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Silicon is the most common semiconductor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semiconductor:x1:1
# text = Silicon is the most common semiconductor.
1	Silicon	silicon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	5	advmod	_	_
5	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	semiconductor	semiconductor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Every phone contains tiny semiconductor chips.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semiconductor:x2:1
# text = Every phone contains tiny semiconductor chips.
1	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	contains	contain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	semiconductor	semiconductor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	chips	chip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contain** | present | every phone | tiny semiconductor chips |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot chip=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A semiconductor conducts electricity better than rubber but worse than copper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semiconductor:x3:1
# text = A semiconductor conducts electricity better than rubber but worse than copper.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	semiconductor	semiconductor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	conducts	conduct	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	electricity	electricity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	xcomp	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	rubber	rubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	conj	_	_
10	than	than	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	copper	copper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **conduct** | present | a semiconductor | electricity |  |  |  | good *property* | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent electricity=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Solar panels use semiconductors to turn light into electricity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semiconductor:x4:1
# text = Solar panels use semiconductors to turn light into electricity.
1	Solar	solar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	panels	panel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	semiconductors	semiconductor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	electricity	electricity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Solar panels | semiconductors |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent semiconductor=Patient |
| 2 | **turn** | to-infinitive | Solar panels *not said here* | light |  | electricity |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent light=Theme into electricity=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a shortage of semiconductors, so car factories slowed down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semiconductor:x5:1
# text = There was a shortage of semiconductors, so car factories slowed down.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	shortage	shortage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	semiconductors	semiconductor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	factories	factory	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	slowed	slow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
12	down	down	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a shortage of semiconductors |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **slow down** | participle | car factories |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
LED lights are made with semiconductors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semiconductor:x6:1
# text = LED lights are made with semiconductors.
1	LED	led	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	lights	light	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	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	semiconductors	semiconductor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | LED lights |  |  |  | with semiconductors | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

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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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