---
title: silhouette — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «silhouette» in the school dictionary: A silhouette is the dark shape or outline of someone or something seen against a brighter background, like a person standing in front of a sunset. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# silhouette

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** silhouette, person, thing, We, tall silhouette, you · **What happens:** be, see, stand, cut out, paint, show · **To what, where:** dark shape, front, picture, black paper, black, outline

<!-- .vabout -->
«silhouette» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [silhouette in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/silhouette.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A silhouette is the dark shape or outline of someone or something seen against a brighter background, like a person standing in front of a sunset.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silhouette:m1:1
# text = A silhouette is the dark shape or outline of someone or something seen against a brighter background, like a person standing in front of a sunset.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	silhouette	silhouette	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	outline	outline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	conj	_	_
13	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl	_	_
14	against	against	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	brighter	bright	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	17	amod	_	_
17	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	like	like	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl:agent	_	_
22	standing	stand	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	21	acl	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	_
25	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	sunset	sunset	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a silhouette | the dark shape or outline of someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | against a brighter background | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **stand** | gerund | a person *not said here* |  |  | front of a sunset |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in front=Location |

<!-- .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 silhouette is a picture of a person or thing cut out of black paper or painted all black, showing only the outline.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silhouette:m2:1
# text = A silhouette is a picture of a person or thing cut out of black paper or painted all black, showing only the outline.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	silhouette	silhouette	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	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	cut	cut	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	out	out	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	painted	paint	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	conj	_	_
18	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	19	det	_	_
19	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	showing	show	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
22	only	only	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	outline	outline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a silhouette | a picture |  |  |  | of a person or thing | tree rules |
| 2 | **cut out** | participle | thing *not said here* | black paper |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Affector paper=Eventuality |
| 3 | **paint** | participle | thing *not said here* | all black |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **show** | gerund | a silhouette *not said here* | the outline |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent outline=Recipient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To be silhouetted means to appear as a dark shape against a light background.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silhouette:m3:1
# text = To be silhouetted means to appear as a dark shape against a light background.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	silhouetted	silhouette	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	nsubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	appear	appear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	against	against	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **silhouette** | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **appear** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | as a dark shape against a light background | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In fashion, a silhouette is the overall shape of a piece of clothing.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silhouette:m4:1
# text = In fashion, a silhouette is the overall shape of a piece of clothing.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	fashion	fashion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	silhouette	silhouette	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	overall	overall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	clothing	clothing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a silhouette | the overall shape |  | fashion |  | of a piece of clothing | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle was silhouetted against the orange sky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silhouette:x1:1
# text = The castle was silhouetted against the orange sky.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	silhouetted	silhouette	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	against	against	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	orange	orange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **silhouette** | past · passive |  | the castle |  |  |  | against the orange sky | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We painted sunset backgrounds and added black silhouettes of trees.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silhouette:x2:1
# text = We painted sunset backgrounds and added black silhouettes of trees.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	painted	paint	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sunset	sunset	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	backgrounds	background	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	added	add	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	silhouettes	silhouette	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | past | We | sunset backgrounds |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent background=Destination |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | past | We *not said here* | black silhouettes of trees |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent silhouette=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tall silhouette appeared in the doorway.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silhouette:x3:1
# text = A tall silhouette appeared in the doorway.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	silhouette	silhouette	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	appeared	appear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	doorway	doorway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **appear** | past | a tall silhouette |  |  | the doorway |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in doorway=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you guess the animal from its silhouette?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silhouette:x4:1
# text = Can you guess the animal from its silhouette?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	guess	guess	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	silhouette	silhouette	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **guess** | can | you | the animal |  | animal's silhouette |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent animal=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old portrait was a silhouette cut from black paper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silhouette:x5:1
# text = The old portrait was a silhouette cut from black paper.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	portrait	portrait	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	silhouette	silhouette	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	cut	cut	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the old portrait | a silhouette |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cut** | participle |  | a silhouette *not said here* |  | black paper |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme from paper=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The birds made dark silhouettes on the telephone wire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silhouette:x6:1
# text = The birds made dark silhouettes on the telephone wire.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	silhouettes	silhouette	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	telephone	telephone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	wire	wire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the birds | dark silhouettes |  | the telephone wire |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent silhouette=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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