---
title: silkworm — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «silkworm» in the school dictionary: A silkworm is the caterpillar of the silk moth, which spins a cocoon of fine silk thread; people use this thread to make silk cloth. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# silkworm

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** silkworm, silk moth, people, Silkworms, Ancient China, class · **What happens:** be, spin, use, make, eat, keep · **To what, where:** caterpillar, cocoon, thread, silk cloth, mulberry leaves, white cocoon

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A silkworm is the caterpillar of the silk moth, which spins a cocoon of fine silk thread; people use this thread to make silk cloth.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silkworm:m1:1
# text = A silkworm is the caterpillar of the silk moth, which spins a cocoon of fine silk thread; people use this thread to make silk cloth.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	silkworm	silkworm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	caterpillar	caterpillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	silk	silk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	moth	moth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	spins	spin	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	cocoon	cocoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
17	silk	silk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	thread	thread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
20	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
21	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
22	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	23	det	_	_
23	thread	thread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	_
24	to	to	PART	TO	_	25	mark	_	_
25	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	advcl	_	_
26	silk	silk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	compound	_	_
27	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	obj	_	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 silkworm | the caterpillar |  |  |  | of the silk moth | tree rules |
| 2 | **spin** | present | the silk moth | a cocoon of fine silk thread |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent cocoon=Theme |
| 3 | **use** | present | people | this thread |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thread=Patient |
| 4 | **make** | to-infinitive | people *not said here* | silk cloth |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset cloth=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Silkworms eat only mulberry leaves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silkworm:x1:1
# text = Silkworms eat only mulberry leaves.
1	Silkworms	silkworm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	mulberry	mulberry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | Silkworms | mulberry leaves |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leaf=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The silkworm spun a white cocoon around itself.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silkworm:x2:1
# text = The silkworm spun a white cocoon around itself.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	silkworm	silkworm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spun	spin	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	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cocoon	cocoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	around	around	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spin** | past | the silkworm | a white cocoon |  |  |  | around silkworm | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent cocoon=Theme around itself=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Silk cloth is made from the thread of silkworms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silkworm:x3:1
# text = Silk cloth is made from the thread of silkworms.
1	Silk	silk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	thread	thread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	silkworms	silkworm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | Silk cloth |  | the thread of silkworms |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: subject=Product from thread=Material |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ancient China kept silkworms secret for centuries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silkworm:x4:1
# text = Ancient China kept silkworms secret for centuries.
1	Ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	China	China	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	silkworms	silkworm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	centuries	century	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | Ancient China | silkworms |  |  | century | secret *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent silkworm=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class watched silkworms turn into moths.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silkworm:x5:1
# text = Our class watched silkworms turn into moths.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	silkworms	silkworm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	turn	turn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	moths	moth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | Our class |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **turn** | present | silkworms |  |  | moths |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme into moth=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A single silkworm cocoon is made of one very long thread.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silkworm:x6:1
# text = A single silkworm cocoon is made of one very long thread.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	single	single	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	silkworm	silkworm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	cocoon	cocoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	thread	thread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | a single silkworm cocoon |  |  |  | of one long thread | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Silkworm moths cannot fly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silkworm:x7:1
# text = Silkworm moths cannot fly.
1	Silkworm	silkworm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	moths	moth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **fly** | can | Silkworm moths |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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