---
title: spine — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spine» in the school dictionary: The row of small bones (vertebrae) down the middle of your back, also called the backbone. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spine

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** row, spine, Hedgehogs, Careful cactus spines, you, ghost story · **What happens:** call, point, join, print, have, do · **To what, where:** backbone, back edge, title, spine, something, sharp spines · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«spine» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [spine in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spine.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The row of small bones (vertebrae) down the middle of your back, also called the backbone.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spine:m1:1
# text = The row of small bones (vertebrae) down the middle of your back, also called the backbone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	row	row	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	vertebrae	vertebra	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	_
9	down	down	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	middle	middle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	also	also	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	backbone	backbone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle | the row of small bones down the middle of your back *not said here* | the backbone |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 sharp, pointed part on an animal or plant, like the spines of a hedgehog or a cactus.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spine:m2:1
# text = A sharp, pointed part on an animal or plant, like the spines of a hedgehog or a cactus.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	spines	spine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	hedgehog	hedgehog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	cactus	cactus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **point** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The back edge of a book, where the pages are joined and the title is usually printed.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spine:m3:1
# text = The back edge of a book, where the pages are joined and the title is usually printed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	12	advmod	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	pages	page	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	title	title	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux:pass	_	_
17	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	printed	print	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | present · passive |  | the back edge of a book |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **print** | present · passive |  | the title |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Courage: having the spine to do something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spine:m4:1
# text = Courage: having the spine to do something.
1	Courage	courage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
3	having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	spine	spine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | gerund |  | the spine |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive | the spine *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your spine is made of 33 small bones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spine:x1:1
# text = Your spine is made of 33 small bones.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	spine	spine	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	_	8	case	_	_
6	33	33	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | Your spine |  |  |  | of 33 small bones | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hedgehogs have sharp spines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spine:x2:1
# text = Hedgehogs have sharp spines.
1	Hedgehogs	hedgehog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	spines	spine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Careful — cactus spines are prickly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spine:x3:1
# text = Careful — cactus spines are prickly.
1	Careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
2	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
3	cactus	cactus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	spines	spine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	prickly	prickly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Careful cactus spines |  |  |  |  | prickly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Read the title on the spine of the book.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spine:x4:1
# text = Read the title on the spine of the book.
1	Read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	title	title	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	spine	spine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | imperative | you *not said here* | the title |  | the spine of the book |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent title=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Animals with a spine are called vertebrates.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spine:x5:1
# text = Animals with a spine are called vertebrates.
1	Animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	spine	spine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	vertebrates	vertebrate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | Animals with a spine |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ghost story sent shivers down my spine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spine:x6:1
# text = The ghost story sent shivers down my spine.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ghost	ghost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	shivers	shiver	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	down	down	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	spine	spine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past | the ghost story | shivers |  |  |  | down my spine | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shiver=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sit up straight to look after your spine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spine:x7:1
# text = Sit up straight to look after your spine.
1	Sit	sit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	straight	straight	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	spine	spine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit up** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | straight *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **look** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  | after your spine |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fish's spine runs from its head to its tail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spine:x8:1
# text = A fish's spine runs from its head to its tail.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	spine	spine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | present | a fish's spine |  |  | spine's head |  | to spine's tail *result* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme to tail=Result |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They climbed up the dragon's side and dumped the children down on his icy spine, with their backs against the North Pole.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spine:x9:1
# text = They climbed up the dragon's side and dumped the children down on his icy spine, with their backs against the North Pole.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	climbed	climb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	dumped	dump	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
12	down	down	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
15	icy	icy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	spine	spine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	with	with	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	backs	back	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
21	against	against	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	North	North	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	Pole	Pole	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb up** | past | They | the dragon's side |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **dump down** | past | They *not said here* | the children |  | dragon's icy spine |  | with children's backs against the North Pole; down *property* | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent child=Theme on spine=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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