---
title: spiracle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spiracle» in the school dictionary: A spiracle is a tiny breathing hole in the side of an insect's or spider's body. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spiracle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** spiracle, breathing, Insects, We, Air, stingray · **What happens:** be, open, call, breathe, see, magnify · **To what, where:** tiny breathing hole, side, breathing, head, blowhole, spiracles · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«spiracle» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [spiracle in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spiracle.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spiracle is a tiny breathing hole in the side of an insect's or spider's body.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiracle:m1:1
# text = A spiracle is a tiny breathing hole in the side of an insect's or spider's body.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spiracle	spiracle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	breathing	breathing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	's	PART	POS	_	13	case	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
16	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	's	PART	POS	_	16	case	_	_
18	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spiracle | a tiny breathing hole |  | the side of a insect or spider's body |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
In some fish, like sharks and rays, and in whales, a spiracle is a breathing opening on the head (a whale's blowhole is sometimes called this).

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiracle:m2:1
# text = In some fish, like sharks and rays, and in whales, a spiracle is a breathing opening on the head (a whale's blowhole is sometimes called this).
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	sharks	shark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	rays	ray	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	spiracle	spiracle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	breathing	breathing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
19	opening	open	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	18	acl	_	_
20	on	on	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
23	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	's	's	PART	POS	_	25	case	_	_
27	blowhole	blowhole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	nsubj:pass	_	_
28	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	30	aux:pass	_	_
29	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	30	advmod	_	_
30	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	18	acl	_	_
31	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	30	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spiracle | a breathing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **open** | gerund | a breathing *not said here* |  |  | the head |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on head=Location |
| 3 | **call** | present · passive | a breathing *not said here* | a whale's blowhole |  |  |  | sometimes *property* | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP NP»: subject=Theme this=Result |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Insects breathe through spiracles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiracle:x1:1
# text = Insects breathe through spiracles.
1	Insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	breathe	breathe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	spiracles	spiracle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **breathe** | present | Insects |  |  | spiracles |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw the spiracles on the caterpillar's side with a magnifying glass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiracle:x2:1
# text = We saw the spiracles on the caterpillar's side with a magnifying glass.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	spiracles	spiracle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	caterpillar	caterpillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	magnifying	magnify	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	amod	_	_
13	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | the spiracles |  | the caterpillar's side |  | with a magnifying glass | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer spiracle=Stimulus |
| 2 | **magnify** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Air enters through the spiracles and travels down tubes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiracle:x3:1
# text = Air enters through the spiracles and travels down tubes.
1	Air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	enters	enter	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	spiracles	spiracle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	travels	travel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	down	down	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	tubes	tube	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enter** | present | Air |  |  | the spiracles |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-2 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through spiracle=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **travel down** | present | Air *not said here* | tubes |  |  |  | down *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme tube=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A stingray has spiracles behind its eyes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiracle:x4:1
# text = A stingray has spiracles behind its eyes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stingray	stingray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	spiracles	spiracle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	behind	behind	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	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a stingray | spiracles |  | stingray's eyes |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spiracle=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spiracles can close to keep water out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiracle:x5:1
# text = Spiracles can close to keep water out.
1	Spiracles	spiracle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	close	close	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **close** | can | Spiracles |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep out** | to-infinitive | Spiracles *not said here* | water |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Insects have no lungs, only spiracles and air tubes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiracle:x6:1
# text = Insects have no lungs, only spiracles and air tubes.
1	Insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	lungs	lung	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	only	only	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	spiracles	spiracle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	tubes	tube	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Insects | no lungs and spiracles and air tubes |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lung=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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