---
title: skunk — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «skunk» in the school dictionary: A small black-and-white animal of North America with a bushy tail, which sprays a very bad-smelling liquid when it is frightened. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/skunk/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/) / skunk

# skunk

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** bushy tail, Skunk, dog, Skunks, you, stripes · **What happens:** spray, smell, frighten, be, walk, come · **To what, where:** bad smelling liquid, liquid, insult, skunk, garden, black fur

<!-- .vabout -->
«skunk» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [skunk in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/skunk.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small black-and-white animal of North America with a bushy tail, which sprays a very bad-smelling liquid when it is frightened.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skunk:m1:1
# text = A small black-and-white animal of North America with a bushy tail, which sprays a very bad-smelling liquid when it is frightened.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
3	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
8	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	North	North	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	bushy	bushy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	sprays	spray	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	acl:relcl	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
20	very	very	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
21	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	smelling	smell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	24	amod	_	_
24	liquid	liquid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
25	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	28	advmod	_	_
26	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	28	nsubj:pass	_	_
27	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	28	aux:pass	_	_
28	frightened	frighten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	18	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spray** | present | a bushy tail | a bad smelling liquid |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent liquid=Theme |
| 2 | **smell** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn smell\_emission-43.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **frighten** | present · passive |  | liquid |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
Skunk can also be an insult for a mean, dishonest person.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skunk:m2:1
# text = Skunk can also be an insult for a mean, dishonest person.
1	Skunk	skunk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	insult	insult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
9	mean	mean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	dishonest	dishonest	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | Skunk | a insult |  |  |  | for a mean dishonest person | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A skunk walked across our garden at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skunk:x1:1
# text = A skunk walked across our garden at night.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	skunk	skunk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	walked	walk	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	acl	_	_
4	across	across	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | participle |  | a skunk *not said here* |  | our garden | night |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across garden=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog came home smelling of skunk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skunk:x2:1
# text = The dog came home smelling of skunk.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	home	home	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	smelling	smell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	skunk	skunk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the dog |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **smell** | gerund | the dog *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of skunk | vn smell\_emission-43.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Location of skunk=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A skunk sprays when it is scared.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skunk:x3:1
# text = A skunk sprays when it is scared.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	skunk	skunk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sprays	spray	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spray** | present | a skunk |  |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | skunk |  |  |  |  | scared *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Skunks have black and white fur.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skunk:x4:1
# text = Skunks have black and white fur.
1	Skunks	skunk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	fur	fur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Skunks | black fur |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fur=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Skunks eat insects, eggs and berries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skunk:x5:1
# text = Skunks eat insects, eggs and berries.
1	Skunks	skunk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	berries	berry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | Skunks | insects and eggs and berries |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent insect=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Back away slowly if you see a skunk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skunk:x6:1
# text = Back away slowly if you see a skunk.
1	Back	back	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	away	away	ADV	RB	_	0	root	_	_
3	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	see	see	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	skunk	skunk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Its stripes warn other animals to stay away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skunk:x7:1
# text = Its stripes warn other animals to stay away.
1	Its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	stripes	stripe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	warn	warn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
8	away	away	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **warn** *speech: warn* | present | Its stripes |  | other animals |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V NP how S\_INF»: agent=Agent animal=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **stay away** | to-infinitive | Its stripes *not said here* |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I have eliminated a malodorous and un-English skunk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skunk:x8:1
# text = I have eliminated a malodorous and un-English skunk.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	eliminated	eliminate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	malodorous	malodorous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	un-English	un-english	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	skunk	skunk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eliminate** | present · perfect | I | a malodorous skunk |  |  |  |  | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent skunk=Patient |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [skull](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/skull/)
- next →: [sky](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sky/)
- ↑ back to [S in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/)