---
title: spectrum — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spectrum» in the school dictionary: The spectrum is the band of colours that white light splits into, as in a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spectrum

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** spectrum, white light, prism, rainbow, Red, class · **What happens:** be, split, say, show, have · **To what, where:** band, colours, autistic people, spectrum, white light, one end · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«spectrum» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [spectrum in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spectrum.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spectrum is the band of colours that white light splits into, as in a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spectrum:m1:1
# text = The spectrum is the band of colours that white light splits into, as in a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spectrum	spectrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	obj	_	_
9	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	splits	split	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
12	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	rainbow	rainbow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
19	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	orange	orange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
25	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
27	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
29	indigo	indigo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
31	violet	violet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the spectrum | the band |  |  |  | of colours | tree rules |
| 2 | **split** | present | white light | colours |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Patient |

<!-- .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 whole range of different but related things, from one end to another.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spectrum:m2:1
# text = A whole range of different but related things, from one end to another.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	range	range	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	related	related	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The autism spectrum: autistic people are said to be "on the spectrum".

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spectrum:m3:1
# text = The autism spectrum: autistic people are said to be "on the spectrum".
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	autism	autism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	spectrum	spectrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	autistic	autistic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl:relcl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	cop	_	_
11	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	spectrum	spectrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · passive |  | autistic people |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: subject=Topic |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | the spectrum |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A prism splits white light into a spectrum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spectrum:x1:1
# text = A prism splits white light into a spectrum.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prism	prism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	splits	split	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	spectrum	spectrum	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 | **split** | present | a prism | white light |  |  |  | into a spectrum *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent light=Patient into spectrum=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rainbow shows the colours of the spectrum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spectrum:x2:1
# text = The rainbow shows the colours of the spectrum.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rainbow	rainbow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	spectrum	spectrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | the rainbow | the colours of the spectrum |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent colour=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Red is at one end of the spectrum and violet at the other.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spectrum:x3:1
# text = Red is at one end of the spectrum and violet at the other.
1	Red	Red	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	spectrum	spectrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	violet	violet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Red |  |  |  | at one end | of the spectrum and violet at the other | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class has a wide spectrum of interests.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spectrum:x4:1
# text = Our class has a wide spectrum of interests.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	spectrum	spectrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	interests	interest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Our class | a wide spectrum of interests |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spectrum=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My cousin is on the autism spectrum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spectrum:x5:1
# text = My cousin is on the autism spectrum.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	autism	autism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	spectrum	spectrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My cousin |  |  | the autism spectrum |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sound also has a spectrum of high and low pitches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spectrum:x6:1
# text = Sound also has a spectrum of high and low pitches.
1	Sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	spectrum	spectrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	pitches	pitch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Sound | a spectrum of high pitches |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spectrum=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 -->

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