---
title: skull — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «skull» in the school dictionary: The skull is the hard bony frame of the head that protects the brain. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# skull

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** skull, head, you, We, pirate flag, doctor · **What happens:** be, protect, cross, wear, see, mean · **To what, where:** hard bony frame, brain, sign, old flags, helmet, skull

<!-- .vabout -->
«skull» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [skull in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/skull.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The skull is the hard bony frame of the head that protects the brain.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skull:m1:1
# text = The skull is the hard bony frame of the head that protects the brain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	skull	skull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	bony	bony	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	frame	frame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	protects	protect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	brain	brain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the skull | the hard bony frame |  |  |  | of the head | tree rules |
| 2 | **protect** | present | the head | the brain |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent brain=Beneficiary |

<!-- .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 skull with crossed bones is a sign of danger or poison, and on old flags of pirates.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skull:m2:1
# text = A skull with crossed bones is a sign of danger or poison, and on old flags of pirates.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	skull	skull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	crossed	cross	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	poison	poison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	flags	flag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	pirates	pirate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cross** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a skull with crossed bones | a sign |  | old flags of pirates |  | of danger or poison | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The skull protects your brain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skull:x1:1
# text = The skull protects your brain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	skull	skull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	protects	protect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	brain	brain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wear a helmet to protect your skull.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skull:x2:1
# text = Wear a helmet to protect your skull.
1	Wear	wear	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	helmet	helmet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	protect	protect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	skull	skull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | imperative | you *not said here* | a helmet |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent helmet=Theme |
| 2 | **protect** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | your skull |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent skull=Beneficiary |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a dinosaur skull at the museum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skull:x3:1
# text = We saw a dinosaur skull at the museum.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	dinosaur	dinosaur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	skull	skull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a dinosaur skull |  | the museum |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer skull=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A skull and crossbones on a bottle means poison.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skull:x4:1
# text = A skull and crossbones on a bottle means poison.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	skull	skull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	crossbones	crossbone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bottle	bottle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	poison	poison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a skull and crossbones on a bottle | poison |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent poison=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pirate flag had a skull on it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skull:x5:1
# text = The pirate flag had a skull on it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	pirate	pirate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	flag	flag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	skull	skull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your skull is made of several bones joined together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skull:x6:1
# text = Your skull is made of several bones joined together.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	skull	skull	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	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	several	several	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	together	together	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | Your skull |  |  |  | of several bones | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |
| 2 | **join** | participle |  | several bones *not said here* |  |  |  | together *property* | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor looked at an X-ray of his skull.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skull:x7:1
# text = The doctor looked at an X-ray of his skull.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	X	x	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	ray	ray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	skull	skull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the doctor |  |  |  |  | at a X ray of doctor's skull | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at ray=Theme |
| 2 | **ray** |  |  | doctor's skull |  |  |  |  | nom ray «phenomenon transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A baby's skull has soft spots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skull:x8:1
# text = A baby's skull has soft spots.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	skull	skull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	spots	spot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a baby's skull | soft spots |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spot=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So they carried the skull into the sitting-room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skull:x9:1
# text = So they carried the skull into the sitting-room.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	skull	skull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	sitting	sitting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past | they | the skull |  | the sitting room |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent skull=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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