---
title: sourdough — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sourdough» in the school dictionary: Sourdough is bread made with a starter, a mix of flour and water full of wild yeast and bacteria, instead of packet yeast; it tastes slightly sour. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sourdough

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** water, sourdough starter, sourdough, We, you, bakery · **What happens:** be, make, taste, keep, feed, have · **To what, where:** Sourdough bread, bubbly mixture, bread, old timer, Alaska, sourdough toast

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sourdough is bread made with a starter, a mix of flour and water full of wild yeast and bacteria, instead of packet yeast; it tastes slightly sour.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sourdough:m1:1
# text = Sourdough is bread made with a starter, a mix of flour and water full of wild yeast and bacteria, instead of packet yeast; it tastes slightly sour.
1	Sourdough	sourdough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	starter	starter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	mix	mix	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	flour	flour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	yeast	yeast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	bacteria	bacterium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
22	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	25	case	_	_
23	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	fixed	_	_
24	packet	packet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	yeast	yeast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	28	punct	_	_
27	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	28	nsubj	_	_
28	tastes	taste	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
29	slightly	slightly	ADV	RB	_	30	advmod	_	_
30	sour	sour	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	28	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | Sourdough bread and a mix of flour and water |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | Sourdough bread and a mix of flour and water *not said here* |  |  |  | with a starter | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **taste** | present | water |  |  |  |  | sour *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 sourdough starter is the bubbly mixture kept alive and «fed» with flour and water to make this bread.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sourdough:m2:1
# text = A sourdough starter is the bubbly mixture kept alive and «fed» with flour and water to make this bread.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sourdough	sourdough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	starter	starter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	bubbly	bubbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	mixture	mixture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	alive	alive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	fed	feed	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	flour	flour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
20	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	21	det	_	_
21	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sourdough starter | the bubbly mixture |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | participle |  | the bubbly mixture *not said here* |  |  |  | alive *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **feed** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | with flour and water | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | this bread |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset bread=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: US, old — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sourdough was an old-timer in Alaska or the Yukon, especially a gold prospector.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sourdough:m3:1
# text = A sourdough was an old-timer in Alaska or the Yukon, especially a gold prospector.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sourdough	sourdough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	timer	timer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Alaska	Alaska	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	Yukon	Yukon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	prospector	prospector	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | a sourdough | a old timer and a gold prospector |  | Alaska or the Yukon |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had sourdough toast for breakfast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sourdough:x1:1
# text = We had sourdough toast for breakfast.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sourdough	sourdough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	toast	toast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	breakfast	breakfast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We | sourdough toast |  |  |  | for breakfast | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent toast=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our sourdough starter bubbles because of the wild yeast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sourdough:x2:1
# text = Our sourdough starter bubbles because of the wild yeast.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sourdough	sourdough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	starter	starter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	bubbles	bubble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	yeast	yeast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Feed the starter with flour and water every day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sourdough:x3:1
# text = Feed the starter with flour and water every day.
1	Feed	feed	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	starter	starter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	flour	flour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feed** | imperative | you *not said here* | the starter |  |  | day | with flour and water | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent starter=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sourdough tastes a bit sour because of the bacteria.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sourdough:x4:1
# text = Sourdough tastes a bit sour because of the bacteria.
1	Sourdough	sourdough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	tastes	taste	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
5	sour	sour	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
6	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bacteria	bacteria	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **taste** | present |  |  |  |  |  | because the bacteria; sour *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bakery sells a crusty sourdough loaf.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sourdough:x5:1
# text = The bakery sells a crusty sourdough loaf.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bakery	bakery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sells	sell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	crusty	crusty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	sourdough	sourdough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	loaf	loaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | present | the bakery | a crusty sourdough loaf |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent loaf=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gas bubbles from the yeast make holes in sourdough.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sourdough:x6:1
# text = Gas bubbles from the yeast make holes in sourdough.
1	Gas	gas	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	bubbles	bubble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	yeast	yeast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	holes	hole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	sourdough	sourdough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Gas bubbles from the yeast | holes |  | sourdough |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset hole=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
San Francisco is famous for its sourdough.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sourdough:x7:1
# text = San Francisco is famous for its sourdough.
1	San	San	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	Francisco	Francisco	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	sourdough	sourdough	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 | **is** | present | San |  |  |  |  | for its sourdough; famous *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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