---
title: shrink — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shrink» in the school dictionary: To shrink means to get smaller, or to make something smaller. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shrink

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Clothes, you, sweater, pond, shirt, class · **What happens:** shrink, mean, get, make, wash, shrink back · **To what, where:** something, Clothes, hot water, 2 cm, hot wash, bottle · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«shrink» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [shrink in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/shrink.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To shrink means to get smaller, or to make something smaller.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shrink:m1:1
# text = To shrink means to get smaller, or to make something smaller.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	shrink	shrink	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	_
12	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shrink** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **get** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | small *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | small *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
Clothes can shrink when they are washed in hot water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shrink:m2:1
# text = Clothes can shrink when they are washed in hot water.
1	Clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	shrink	shrink	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	washed	wash	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shrink** | can | Clothes |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **wash** | present · passive |  | Clothes |  | hot water |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To shrink back or shrink away is to move back because you are afraid.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shrink:m3:1
# text = To shrink back or shrink away is to move back because you are afraid.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	shrink	shrink	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	back	back	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	shrink	shrink	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
6	away	away	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	back	back	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	afraid	afraid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shrink back** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **shrink away** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | move *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | afraid *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sweater shrank by 4 cm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shrink:x1:1
# text = The sweater shrank by 4 cm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sweater	sweater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shrank	shrink	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	cm	cm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shrink** | past | the sweater |  |  |  |  | by 4 cm | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pond shrinks 2 cm each day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shrink:x2:1
# text = The pond shrinks 2 cm each day.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shrinks	shrink	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	cm	cm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shrink** | present | the pond | 2 cm |  |  | day |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent cm=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How long is the shirt after it shrinks?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shrink:x3:1
# text = How long is the shirt after it shrinks?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	shirt	shirt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nmod	_	_
8	shrinks	shrink	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | long *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **shrink** | present | the shirt after it |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The class shrank from 30 to 25 pupils.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shrink:x4:1
# text = The class shrank from 30 to 25 pupils.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shrank	shrink	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	25	25	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nmod	_	_
8	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shrink** | past | the class |  |  |  |  | from 30 pupils | vn flinch-40.5 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer from pupil=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My jumper shrank in the hot wash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shrink:x5:1
# text = My jumper shrank in the hot wash.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	jumper	jumper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shrank	shrink	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	wash	wash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shrink** | past | My jumper |  |  | the hot wash |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alice drank from the bottle and began to shrink.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shrink:x6:1
# text = Alice drank from the bottle and began to shrink.
1	Alice	Alice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	drank	drink	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bottle	bottle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	shrink	shrink	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drink** | past | Alice |  |  | the bottle |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V PP.source»: agent=Agent from bottle=Source |
| 2 | **begin** | past | Alice *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **shrink** | to-infinitive | Alice *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Metal shrinks a little when it gets cold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shrink:x7:1
# text = Metal shrinks a little when it gets cold.
1	Metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shrinks	shrink	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shrink** | present | Metal | a little |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent little=Patient |
| 2 | **get** | present | Metal |  |  |  |  | cold *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puddle shrank in the hot sun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shrink:x8:1
# text = The puddle shrank in the hot sun.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puddle	puddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shrank	shrink	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	sun.	sun.	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shrink** | past | the puddle |  |  | the hot sun. |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Will the dog bite me?" asked Proserpina, shrinking closer to Pluto.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shrink:x9:1
# text = "Will the dog bite me?" asked Proserpina, shrinking closer to Pluto.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	bite	bite	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	ccomp	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
9	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	Proserpina	Proserpina	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	iobj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	shrinking	shrink	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
13	closer	close	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	12	xcomp	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	Pluto	Pluto	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bite** *in a quote* | future | the dog | me |  |  |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Patient |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past |  |  | Proserpina |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1-1 «NP V NP that S»: agent=Agent proserpina=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **shrink** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | close *property* | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

<!-- 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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