---
title: silverback — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «silverback» in the school dictionary: A silverback is a grown-up male gorilla, the leader of a gorilla family, named after the silvery-grey hair on his back. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# silverback

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** silverback, people, strong older man, baby gorillas, hair, Gorillas · **What happens:** grow up, be, name, call, lead, beat · **To what, where:** grown male gorilla, strong older man, group, chest, danger, much · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A silverback is a grown-up male gorilla, the leader of a gorilla family, named after the silvery-grey hair on his back.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverback:m1:1
# text = A silverback is a grown-up male gorilla, the leader of a gorilla family, named after the silvery-grey hair on his back.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	silverback	silverback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
8	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	gorilla	gorilla	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	gorilla	gorilla	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	named	name	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
19	after	after	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
21	silvery	silvery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
25	on	on	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	27	nmod:poss	_	_
27	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow up** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a silverback | a grown male gorilla |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **name** | participle |  | a grown male gorilla *not said here* |  |  | after the grey hair on gorilla's back |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sometimes people jokingly call a strong older man who leads a group a silverback.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverback:m2:1
# text = Sometimes people jokingly call a strong older man who leads a group a silverback.
1	Sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	4	advmod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	jokingly	jokingly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	amod	_	_
8	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	leads	lead	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	silverback	silverback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | people |  | a strong older man |  |  | jokingly, sometimes *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent man=Recipient |
| 2 | **lead** | present | a strong older man | a group |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The silverback beat his chest to scare off danger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverback:x1:1
# text = The silverback beat his chest to scare off danger.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	silverback	silverback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	beat	beat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	chest	chest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	scare	scare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	off	off	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beat** | past | the silverback | silverback's chest |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location chest=Theme |
| 2 | **scare off** | to-infinitive | the silverback *not said here* | danger |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus danger=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A silverback can weigh twice as much as a man.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverback:x2:1
# text = A silverback can weigh twice as much as a man.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	silverback	silverback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	weigh	weigh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	7	advmod	_	_
6	as	as	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obj	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **weigh** | can | a silverback | much |  |  |  | as a man | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme much=Value |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby gorillas played near the silverback.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverback:x3:1
# text = The baby gorillas played near the silverback.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	gorillas	gorilla	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	near	near	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	silverback	silverback	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 | **play** | past | the baby gorillas |  |  | the silverback |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The silverback leads his family through the forest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverback:x4:1
# text = The silverback leads his family through the forest.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	silverback	silverback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	leads	lead	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	through	through	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	forest	forest	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 | **lead** | present | the silverback | silverback's family |  | the forest |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent family=Theme through forest=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gorillas' hair turns silver when they are about twelve years old.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverback:x5:1
# text = Gorillas' hair turns silver when they are about twelve years old.
1	Gorillas	gorilla	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	silver	silver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	12	mark	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
9	about	about	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	twelve	twelve	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl:unmarked	_	_
12	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | Gorillas's hair | silver |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent silver=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | Gorillas *= gorilla* |  |  |  | year | old *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At the zoo, the silverback sat calmly eating leaves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverback:x6:1
# text = At the zoo, the silverback sat calmly eating leaves.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	zoo	zoo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	silverback	silverback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	calmly	calmly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
10	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | the silverback |  |  | the zoo |  | calmly *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent at zoo=Location |
| 2 | **eat** | gerund | the silverback *not said here* | leaves |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leaf=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad is the silverback of our house, Mum joked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverback:x7:1
# text = Dad is the silverback of our house, Mum joked.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	silverback	silverback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	Mum	Mum	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	joked	joke	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Dad | the silverback |  |  |  | of our house | tree rules |
| 2 | **joke** *speech: other* | past | Mum | the silverback *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

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**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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