---
title: sprout — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sprout» in the school dictionary: To sprout is to start to grow: a seed sprouts when it puts out its first shoot. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sprout

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** seed, sprout, Brussels sprout, beans, Old potatoes, We · **What happens:** sprout, be, grow, put out, mean, appear · **To what, where:** first shoot, young new shoot, small green vegetable, New shops, cupboard, bean sprouts · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sprout is to start to grow: a seed sprouts when it puts out its first shoot.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprout:m1:1
# text = To sprout is to start to grow: a seed sprouts when it puts out its first shoot.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sprout	sprout	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	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	start	start	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	seed	seed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	sprouts	sprout	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
12	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	14	advmod	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	puts	put	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
15	out	out	ADP	RP	_	14	compound:prt	_	_
16	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
17	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	18	amod	_	_
18	shoot	shoot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sprout** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | start *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **grow** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **sprout** | present | a seed |  |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |
| 5 | **put out** | present | seed | seed's first shoot |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent shoot=Goal |

<!-- .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 sprout is a young new shoot of a plant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprout:m2:1
# text = A sprout is a young new shoot of a plant.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sprout	sprout	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	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	shoot	shoot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sprout | a young new shoot |  |  |  | of a plant | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A (Brussels) sprout is a small green vegetable like a tiny cabbage.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprout:m3:1
# text = A (Brussels) sprout is a small green vegetable like a tiny cabbage.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Brussels	Brussels	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	sprout	sprout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	vegetable	vegetable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	cabbage	cabbage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a Brussels sprout | a small green vegetable |  |  |  | like a tiny cabbage | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sprout can also mean to appear suddenly: «New shops sprouted up.».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprout:m4:1
# text = To sprout can also mean to appear suddenly: «New shops sprouted up.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sprout	sprout	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	appear	appear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	New	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	shops	shop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	sprouted	sprout	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	ccomp	_	_
14	up	up	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sprout** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |
| 2 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **appear** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | suddenly *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **sprout up** *in a quote* | participle · passive |  | New shops |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Source |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our beans sprouted after three days.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprout:x1:1
# text = Our beans sprouted after three days.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	beans	bean	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sprouted	sprout	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sprout** | past | Our beans |  |  |  | day |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old potatoes start to sprout in the cupboard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprout:x2:1
# text = Old potatoes start to sprout in the cupboard.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	potatoes	potato	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	sprout	sprout	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	cupboard	cupboard	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 | **start** | present | Old potatoes |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **sprout** | to-infinitive | Old potatoes *not said here* |  |  | the cupboard |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_modes\_being-47.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in cupboard=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We ate bean sprouts in the stir-fry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprout:x3:1
# text = We ate bean sprouts in the stir-fry.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	bean	bean	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	sprouts	sprout	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	stir	stir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	fry	fry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | past | We | bean sprouts |  | the stir fry |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sprout=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Brussels sprouts are served at Christmas dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprout:x4:1
# text = Brussels sprouts are served at Christmas dinner.
1	Brussels	brussels	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	sprouts	sprout	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	served	serve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **serve** | present · passive |  | Brussels sprouts |  | Christmas dinner |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Attribute |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leaves sprouted on the trees in spring.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprout:x5:1
# text = Leaves sprouted on the trees in spring.
1	Leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
2	sprouted	sprout	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sprout** | participle |  | Leaves *not said here* |  | the trees in spring |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_modes\_being-47.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on tree=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boy seemed to sprout taller every week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprout:x6:1
# text = The boy seemed to sprout taller every week.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	sprout	sprout	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	taller	tall	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	xcomp	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | past | the boy |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **sprout** | to-infinitive | the boy *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tall *property* | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
New houses sprouted up all over town.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprout:x7:1
# text = New houses sprouted up all over town.
1	New	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	houses	house	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	sprouted	sprout	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	all	all	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sprout up** | participle |  | New houses *not said here* |  | town |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over town=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And there was the end of the army that had sprouted from the dragon's teeth.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprout:x8:1
# text = And there was the end of the army that had sprouted from the dragon's teeth.
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
2	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	3	expl	_	_
3	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	sprouted	sprout	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	from	from	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	's	's	PART	POS	_	14	case	_	_
16	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | the end of the army |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **sprout** | past · perfect · passive |  | the army |  | the dragon's teeth |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Source |

<!-- 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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