---
title: sensor — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sensor» in the school dictionary: A sensor is a device that notices something, such as light, heat, movement, sound or touch, and sends a signal about it. 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/S/sensor/)

<!-- 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/) / [S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/) / sensor

# sensor

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sensor, device, Living things, automatic door, you, We · **What happens:** be, notice, send, have, see, come · **To what, where:** device, something, signal, natural sensors, sensor, you

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sensor is a device that notices something, such as light, heat, movement, sound or touch, and sends a signal about it.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sensor:m1:1
# text = A sensor is a device that notices something, such as light, heat, movement, sound or touch, and sends a signal about it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sensor	sensor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	device	device	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	notices	notice	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	touch	touch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	sends	send	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	signal	signal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obj	_	_
26	about	about	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sensor | a device |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **notice** | present | a device | something |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |
| 3 | **send** | present | a device *not said here* | a signal |  |  |  | about sensor | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent signal=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Living things have natural sensors too, like the eyes, ears and skin.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sensor:m2:1
# text = Living things have natural sensors too, like the eyes, ears and skin.
1	Living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sensors	sensor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Living things | natural sensors |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sensor=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The automatic door has a sensor that sees you coming.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sensor:x1:1
# text = The automatic door has a sensor that sees you coming.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	automatic	automatic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sensor	sensor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	sees	see	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	coming	come	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the automatic door | a sensor |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sensor=Patient |
| 2 | **see** | present | a sensor | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **come** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We used the micro:bit's light sensor to measure brightness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sensor:x2:1
# text = We used the micro:bit's light sensor to measure brightness.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	micro:bit	micro:bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	sensor	sensor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	measure	measure	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	brightness	brightness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | We | the micro:bit's light sensor |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sensor=Patient |
| 2 | **measure** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | brightness |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme brightness=Value |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The security light switched on when the motion sensor saw a cat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sensor:x3:1
# text = The security light switched on when the motion sensor saw a cat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	security	security	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	switched	switch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	motion	motion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	sensor	sensor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **switch on** | participle |  | the security light *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn convert-26.6.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **see** | past | the security light | a cat |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer cat=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Smoke alarms have a sensor that detects smoke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sensor:x4:1
# text = Smoke alarms have a sensor that detects smoke.
1	Smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	alarms	alarm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sensor	sensor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	detects	detect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Smoke alarms | a sensor |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sensor=Patient |
| 2 | **detect** | present | a sensor | smoke |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer smoke=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The car's parking sensor beeped near the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sensor:x5:1
# text = The car's parking sensor beeped near the wall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	parking	parking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	sensor	sensor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	beeped	beep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	near	near	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beep** | participle |  | the car's parking sensor *not said here* |  | the wall |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme near wall=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The robot used a touch sensor to stop at the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sensor:x6:1
# text = The robot used a touch sensor to stop at the wall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	touch	touch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	sensor	sensor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the robot | a touch sensor |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sensor=Patient |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive | the robot *not said here* | a touch sensor *not said here* |  | the wall |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at wall=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your skin is full of sensors for heat and pain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sensor:x7:1
# text = Your skin is full of sensors for heat and pain.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	sensors	sensor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Your skin |  |  |  |  | of sensors for heat and pain; full *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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: [sensitivity](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensitivity/)
- next →: [sensory](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensory/)
- ↑ back to [S in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/)