---
title: sigma — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sigma» in the school dictionary: The eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet, written Σ (capital) and σ or ς (small). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sigma

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** capital, Σ, He, anyone, brother, sigma · **What happens:** write, letter, mean, add up, use, spread out · **To what, where:** eighteenth letter, Greek alphabet, all, small σ, statistics, numbers · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«sigma» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [sigma in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sigma.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet, written Σ (capital) and σ or ς (small).

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sigma:m1:1
# text = The eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet, written Σ (capital) and σ or ς (small).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	eighteenth	eighteenth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Greek	Greek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	alphabet	alphabet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
10	Σ	Σ	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl:agent	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	capital	capital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	σ	σ	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	ς	ς	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
18	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | participle |  | the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **letter** |  |  | the Greek alphabet |  |  |  |  | nom letter «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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: maths — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The capital Σ means "add up all of these" (the sum); small σ is used in statistics for standard deviation (how spread out numbers are).

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sigma:m2:1
# text = The capital Σ means "add up all of these" (the sum); small σ is used in statistics for standard deviation (how spread out numbers are).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	capital	capital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	Σ	Σ	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	add	add	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	these	this	PRON	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
12	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	sum	sum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	σ	σ	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj:pass	_	_
19	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux:pass	_	_
20	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	parataxis	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	statistics	statistic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	_
23	for	for	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	standard	standard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	deviation	deviation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	_
26	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	28	advmod	_	_
28	spread	spread	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	25	acl:relcl	_	_
29	out	out	ADP	RP	_	28	compound:prt	_	_
30	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	obj	_	_
31	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	32	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the capital |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **add up** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | infinitive |  | all |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **use** | present · passive |  | small σ |  | statistics |  | for standard deviation | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: subject=Theme for deviation=Eventuality |
| 4 | **spread out** | participle |  | numbers |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location number=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Used by some young people to mean "cool", "independent" or "the best", as in "sigma male"; often a joke or meme.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sigma:m3:1
# text = Used by some young people to mean "cool", "independent" or "the best", as in "sigma male"; often a joke or meme.
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	advcl	_	_
2	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
4	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	mean	mean	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	cool	cool	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	independent	independent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
16	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
21	as	as	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
22	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	sigma	sigma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	male	male	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
28	often	often	ADV	RB	_	30	advmod	_	_
29	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	_
31	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	32	cc	_	_
32	meme	meme	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by some young people | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | to-infinitive |  | cool |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Σ is the Greek capital letter sigma.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sigma:x1:1
# text = Σ is the Greek capital letter sigma.
1	Σ	Σ	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	Greek	Greek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
5	capital	capital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	sigma	sigma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In maths, Σ means "add them all up".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sigma:x2:1
# text = In maths, Σ means "add them all up".
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Σ	σ	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	add	add	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	all	all	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	up	up	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Σ |  |  | maths |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | infinitive |  | maths *= math* |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sum Σ from 1 to 5 equals 15.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sigma:x3:1
# text = The sum Σ from 1 to 5 equals 15.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sum	sum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	Σ	Σ	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nmod	_	_
8	equals	equal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
9	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"He didn't care what anyone thought — so sigma," joked my brother.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sigma:x4:1
# text = "He didn't care what anyone thought — so sigma," joked my brother.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	care	care	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	obj	_	_
7	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
8	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
11	sigma	sigma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	_
14	joked	joke	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
15	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **care** *in a quote* | past · do-support | He |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* *in a quote* | past | anyone |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **joke** *speech: other* | past | my brother |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Small sigma σ is used to show spread in statistics.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sigma:x5:1
# text = Small sigma σ is used to show spread in statistics.
1	Small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	sigma	sigma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	σ	σ	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
7	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	spread	spread	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	xcomp	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	statistics	statistic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Small sigma σ |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: subject=Theme clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **spread** | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  | statistics |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: in statistic=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Greek, sigma makes an "s" sound.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sigma:x6:1
# text = In Greek, sigma makes an "s" sound.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Greek	Greek	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	sigma	sigma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
7	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	s	s	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
10	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | sigma | a s sound |  | Greek |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |

<!-- 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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