---
title: sprawl — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sprawl» in the school dictionary: To sprawl is to sit or lie with your arms and legs spread out in a relaxed or careless way. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sprawl

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sprawl, town, He, tackle, city, Urban sprawl · **What happens:** be, lie, spread out, mean, fall, sprawl · **To what, where:** arms, relaxed way, you, large area, spreading, countryside

<!-- .vabout -->
«sprawl» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [sprawl in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sprawl.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sprawl is to sit or lie with your arms and legs spread out in a relaxed or careless way.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprawl:m1:1
# text = To sprawl is to sit or lie with your arms and legs spread out in a relaxed or careless way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sprawl	sprawl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	advcl	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	sit	sit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	lie	lie	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
13	spread	spread	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
14	out	out	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
17	relaxed	relaxed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	conj	_	_
20	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | sit *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **lie** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with your arms and legs | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **spread out** | participle |  | your arms and legs *not said here* |  | a relaxed way |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in way=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
To sprawl can mean to fall so that you land spread out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprawl:m2:1
# text = To sprawl can mean to fall so that you land spread out.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
2	sprawl	sprawl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	fall	fall	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	11	mark	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	land	land	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	spread	spread	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	advcl	_	_
12	out	out	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | sprawl |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **fall** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | sprawl *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **spread out** | present · passive |  | you |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A town or city that sprawls spreads out over a large area in an untidy way.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprawl:m3:1
# text = A town or city that sprawls spreads out over a large area in an untidy way.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	sprawls	sprawl	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	spreads	spread	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	over	over	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	untidy	untidy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sprawl** | present | a town or city |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **spread out** | present | a town or city |  |  | a large area |  | in a untidy way | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over area=Location |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sprawl (urban sprawl) is the spreading of houses, shops and roads into the countryside around a city.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprawl:m4:1
# text = Sprawl (urban sprawl) is the spreading of houses, shops and roads into the countryside around a city.
1	Sprawl	sprawl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	urban	urban	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	sprawl	sprawl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	spreading	spreading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	houses	house	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	shops	shop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	roads	road	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
15	into	into	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	countryside	countryside	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
18	around	around	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sprawl | the spreading |  | the countryside around a city |  | of houses and shops and roads | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He sprawled on the sofa after football.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprawl:x1:1
# text = He sprawled on the sofa after football.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sprawled	sprawl	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sofa	sofa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	football	football	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 | **sprawl** | past | He |  |  | the sofa | after football |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on sofa=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tackle sent her sprawling onto the grass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprawl:x2:1
# text = The tackle sent her sprawling onto the grass.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tackle	tackle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	sprawling	sprawl	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past | the tackle | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Theme |
| 2 | **sprawl** | gerund | the tackle *not said here* |  |  | the grass |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The city sprawls for miles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprawl:x3:1
# text = The city sprawls for miles.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sprawls	sprawl	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	miles	mile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sprawl** | present | the city |  |  |  |  | for miles | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Urban sprawl is eating up farmland.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprawl:x4:1
# text = Urban sprawl is eating up farmland.
1	Urban	urban	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	sprawl	sprawl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	farmland	farmland	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat up** | present · progressive | Urban sprawl | farmland |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent farmland=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat lay sprawled in the sun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprawl:x5:1
# text = The cat lay sprawled in the sun.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	lay	lie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	sprawled	sprawl	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sun.	sun.	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sprawl** | past · passive |  | the cat |  | the sun. |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in sun.=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sprawling old house stood on the hill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprawl:x6:1
# text = A sprawling old house stood on the hill.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	sprawling	sprawl	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sprawl** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **stand** | past | a sprawling old house |  |  | the hill |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on hill=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Green belts stop sprawl around London.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprawl:x7:1
# text = Green belts stop sprawl around London.
1	Green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	belts	belt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stop	stop	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sprawl	sprawl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	around	around	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	London	London	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | present | Green belts | sprawl |  | London |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality sprawl=Eventuality |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Hallo, Woe! why are you always idly sprawling there?"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprawl:x8:1
# text = "Hallo, Woe! why are you always idly sprawling there?"
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Hallo	Hallo	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	Woe	Woe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
6	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	11	advmod	_	_
10	idly	idly	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	sprawling	sprawl	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
12	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sprawl** *in a quote* | present · progressive | Hallo and Woe |  |  | there |  | always, idly *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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