---
title: spider — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spider» in the school dictionary: A spider is a small animal with 8 legs that spins webs of silk to catch insects. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spider

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** spider, small animal, Spiders, group, Most spiders, few · **What happens:** be, spin, catch, not be, belong, call · **To what, where:** small animal, webs, insects, arachnids, dangerous bite, 8 legs · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spider is a small animal with 8 legs that spins webs of silk to catch insects.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spider:m1:1
# text = A spider is a small animal with 8 legs that spins webs of silk to catch insects.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	spins	spin	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
12	webs	web	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	silk	silk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
17	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spider | a small animal |  |  |  | with 8 legs | tree rules |
| 2 | **spin** | present | a small animal | webs of silk |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent web=Theme |
| 3 | **catch** | to-infinitive | a small animal *not said here* | insects |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent insect=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Spiders are not insects; they belong to a group called arachnids.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spider:m2:1
# text = Spiders are not insects; they belong to a group called arachnids.
1	Spiders	spider	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	belong	belong	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	arachnids	arachnid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | present | Spiders | insects |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **belong** | present | Spiders *= spider* |  |  |  |  | to a group | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **call** | participle | a group *not said here* | arachnids |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Most spiders are harmless to people, but a few, like some in Australia, have a dangerous bite.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spider:m3:1
# text = Most spiders are harmless to people, but a few, like some in Australia, have a dangerous bite.
1	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	amod	_	_
2	spiders	spider	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	conj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
17	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	bite	bite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Most spiders |  |  |  |  | to people; harmless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | a few | a dangerous bite |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bite=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spider has 8 legs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spider:x1:1
# text = A spider has 8 legs.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a spider | 8 legs |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leg=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many legs do 5 spiders have?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spider:x2:1
# text = How many legs do 5 spiders have?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	spiders	spider	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | many legs |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | 5 spiders |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are spiders and beetles with 70 legs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spider:x3:1
# text = There are spiders and beetles with 70 legs.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	spiders	spider	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	beetles	beetle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	70	70	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | spiders with 70 legs and beetles |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She saw 3 spiders in the web.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spider:x4:1
# text = She saw 3 spiders in the web.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	spiders	spider	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	web	web	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | She | 3 spiders |  | the web |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer spider=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spider is not an insect because it has 8 legs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spider:x5:1
# text = A spider is not an insect because it has 8 legs.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
10	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | present | a spider | a insect |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | spider | 8 legs |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leg=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spider spun a web between two branches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spider:x6:1
# text = The spider spun a web between two branches.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spun	spin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	web	web	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	between	between	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	branches	branch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spin** | past | the spider | a web |  |  |  | between two branches | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent web=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the water spout.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spider:x7:1
# text = Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the water spout.
1	Incy	Incy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	Wincy	Wincy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	Spider	Spider	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
4	climbed	climb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	spout	spout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb up** | past | Incy | the water spout |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location spout=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Australia, do not touch a redback spider.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spider:x8:1
# text = In Australia, do not touch a redback spider.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	touch	touch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	redback	redback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **touch** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | a redback spider |  | Australia |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme spider=Co-Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Good father Spider! please not to kill me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spider:x9:1
# text = "Good father Spider! please not to kill me.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	Spider	Spider	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
6	please	please	INTJ	UH	_	9	discourse	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	kill	kill	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **kill** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | father Spider | me |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=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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