---
title: skeletal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «skeletal» in the school dictionary: Skeletal means to do with the skeleton, the frame of bones inside a body: the skeletal system. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# skeletal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Skeletal, animal, bones, skeletal system, Skeletal muscles, us · **What happens:** mean, do, describe, be, show, protect · **To what, where:** person, basic parts, heart, us, skeletal remains, grave · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Skeletal means to do with the skeleton, the frame of bones inside a body: the skeletal system.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skeletal:m1:1
# text = Skeletal means to do with the skeleton, the frame of bones inside a body: the skeletal system.
1	Skeletal	Skeletal	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	skeleton	skeleton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	frame	frame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	_
13	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	skeletal	skeletal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Skeletal |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with the skeleton and the frame of bones inside a body | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Skeletal can describe a person or animal that is very, very thin, so their bones show.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skeletal:m2:1
# text = Skeletal can describe a person or animal that is very, very thin, so their bones show.
1	Skeletal	Skeletal	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
10	very	very	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	very	very	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	so	so	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
16	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	_
18	show	show	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can | Skeletal | a person or animal |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent person=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | animal |  |  |  |  | thin *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **show** | present | person's bones |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Skeletal can mean only the most basic parts, with little else: a skeletal plan, a skeletal staff.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skeletal:m3:1
# text = Skeletal can mean only the most basic parts, with little else: a skeletal plan, a skeletal staff.
1	Skeletal	Skeletal	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	7	advmod	_	_
7	basic	basic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
12	else	else	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	skeletal	skeletal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	skeletal	skeletal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	staff	staff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Skeletal | the basic parts |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent part=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The skeletal system protects our heart and lungs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skeletal:x1:1
# text = The skeletal system protects our heart and lungs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	skeletal	skeletal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	protects	protect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	lungs	lung	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **protect** | present | the skeletal system | our heart and lungs |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent heart=Beneficiary |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Skeletal muscles help us run and jump.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skeletal:x2:1
# text = Skeletal muscles help us run and jump.
1	Skeletal	skeletal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	muscles	muscle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	run	run	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	jump	jump	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Skeletal muscles | us |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent we=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **run** | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **jump** | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists found the skeletal remains of a dinosaur.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skeletal:x3:1
# text = Scientists found the skeletal remains of a dinosaur.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	skeletal	skeletal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	remains	remains	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	dinosaur	dinosaur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | Scientists | the skeletal remains of a dinosaur |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent remains=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A skeletal hand reached out of the grave in the spooky story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skeletal:x4:1
# text = A skeletal hand reached out of the grave in the spooky story.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	skeletal	skeletal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	reached	reach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	grave	grave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	spooky	spooky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reach out** | past | a skeletal hand | the grave |  | the spooky story |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent grave=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rescued dog was skeletal and needed food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skeletal:x5:1
# text = The rescued dog was skeletal and needed food.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	rescued	rescue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	skeletal	skeletal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	needed	need	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
8	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rescue** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the rescued dog |  |  |  |  | skeletal *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **need** | past | the rescued dog *not said here* | food |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot food=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Over the holidays the school had only a skeletal staff.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skeletal:x6:1
# text = Over the holidays the school had only a skeletal staff.
1	Over	over	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	holidays	holiday	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	skeletal	skeletal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	staff	staff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the school | a skeletal staff |  | the holidays |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent staff=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our first plan was just a skeletal outline.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skeletal:x7:1
# text = Our first plan was just a skeletal outline.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	amod	_	_
3	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	skeletal	skeletal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	outline	outline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Our first plan | a skeletal outline |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **plan** |  | Our |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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