---
title: springtail — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «springtail» in the school dictionary: A tiny, wingless, six-legged animal that lives in soil and leaf litter and jumps by flicking a spring-like tail under its body. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# springtail

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tiny legged animal, We, springtail, Springtails, You, Thousands · **What happens:** live, jump, flick, find, help, break down · **To what, where:** soil, like tail, body, springtails, leaf litter, tail

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tiny, wingless, six-legged animal that lives in soil and leaf litter and jumps by flicking a spring-like tail under its body.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:springtail:m1:1
# text = A tiny, wingless, six-legged animal that lives in soil and leaf litter and jumps by flicking a spring-like tail under its body.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
2	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	wingless	wingless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	legged	legged	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	jumps	jump	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
19	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
20	flicking	flick	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	18	advcl	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
22	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	like	like	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
26	under	under	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	28	nmod:poss	_	_
28	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | a tiny legged animal |  |  | soil and leaf litter |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in soil=Location |
| 2 | **jump** | present | a tiny legged animal *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **flick** | gerund | a tiny legged animal *not said here* | a like tail |  | tail's body |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent tail=Theme under body=Destination |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We found springtails in the leaf litter under the hedge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:springtail:x1:1
# text = We found springtails in the leaf litter under the hedge.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	springtails	springtail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	under	under	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	hedge	hedge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | We | springtails |  | the leaf litter under the hedge |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent springtail=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A springtail jumps by flicking its tail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:springtail:x2:1
# text = A springtail jumps by flicking its tail.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	springtail	springtail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	jumps	jump	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	flicking	flick	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jump** | present | a springtail |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **flick** | gerund | a springtail *not said here* | springtail's tail |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tail=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Springtails help break down dead leaves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:springtail:x3:1
# text = Springtails help break down dead leaves.
1	Springtails	springtail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Springtails |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **break down** | infinitive | Springtails *not said here* | dead leaves |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leaf=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You need a magnifying glass to see a springtail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:springtail:x4:1
# text = You need a magnifying glass to see a springtail.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	magnifying	magnify	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	springtail	springtail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | You | a magnifying glass |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot glass=Theme |
| 2 | **magnify** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **see** | to-infinitive | You *not said here* | a springtail |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer springtail=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thousands of springtails can live in one square metre of soil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:springtail:x5:1
# text = Thousands of springtails can live in one square metre of soil.
1	Thousands	thousand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	springtails	springtail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
8	square	square	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	metre	metre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | can | Thousands of springtails |  |  | one square metre of soil |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in metre=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Springtails are not insects, though they look like them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:springtail:x6:1
# text = Springtails are not insects, though they look like them.
1	Springtails	springtail	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	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | present | Springtails | insects |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | present | Springtails *= springtail* | insects *not said here* |  |  |  | like insects *= insect* | vn seem-109-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme insect=Attribute |

<!-- 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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