---
title: stegosaurus — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «stegosaurus» in the school dictionary: A stegosaurus was a large plant-eating dinosaur with two rows of big bony plates along its back and sharp spikes on its tail. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# stegosaurus

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** stegosaurus, name, people, plates, We, brain · **What happens:** eat, be, mean, think, lay, have · **To what, where:** large eating dinosaur, roof lizard, plates, back, tail, ferns · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«stegosaurus» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [stegosaurus in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/stegosaurus.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A stegosaurus was a large plant-eating dinosaur with two rows of big bony plates along its back and sharp spikes on its tail.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stegosaurus:m1:1
# text = A stegosaurus was a large plant-eating dinosaur with two rows of big bony plates along its back and sharp spikes on its tail.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stegosaurus	stegosaurus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	amod	_	_
9	dinosaur	dinosaur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	rows	row	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	bony	bony	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	_
17	along	along	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	spikes	spike	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	_
23	on	on	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
25	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | a stegosaurus | a large eating dinosaur |  |  |  | with two rows of big bony plates along stegosaurus's back and sharp spikes on stegosaurus's tail | 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 -->
The name means «roof lizard» because people once thought its plates lay flat like roof tiles.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stegosaurus:m2:1
# text = The name means «roof lizard» because people once thought its plates lay flat like roof tiles.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	lizard	lizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
10	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	11	advmod	_	_
11	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
12	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
14	lay	lay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	ccomp	_	_
15	flat	flat	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	tiles	tile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the name | roof lizard |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lizard=Topic |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | past | people |  |  |  |  | once *property* | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **lay** | present | name's plates |  |  |  |  | like roof tiles; flat *property* | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The stegosaurus had plates on its back and spikes on its tail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stegosaurus:x1:1
# text = The stegosaurus had plates on its back and spikes on its tail.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stegosaurus	stegosaurus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	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	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	spikes	spike	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the stegosaurus | plates |  | stegosaurus's back |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plate=Patient |
| 2 | **spike** | present | the stegosaurus *not said here* |  |  | stegosaurus's tail |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stegosaurus ate ferns and low plants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stegosaurus:x2:1
# text = Stegosaurus ate ferns and low plants.
1	Stegosaurus	Stegosaurus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	ferns	fern	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | past | Stegosaurus | ferns and low plants |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fern=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a stegosaurus skeleton at the Natural History Museum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stegosaurus:x3:1
# text = We saw a stegosaurus skeleton at the Natural History Museum.
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	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	stegosaurus	stegosaurus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	skeleton	skeleton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	Natural	Natural	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	History	History	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	Museum	Museum	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a stegosaurus skeleton |  | the History Museum |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer skeleton=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A stegosaurus was as long as a bus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stegosaurus:x4:1
# text = A stegosaurus was as long as a bus.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stegosaurus	stegosaurus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	as	as	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bus	bus	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 | **is** | past | a stegosaurus |  |  |  |  | as a bus; long *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Its brain was surprisingly small, about the size of a dog's.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stegosaurus:x5:1
# text = Its brain was surprisingly small, about the size of a dog's.
1	Its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brain	brain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	surprisingly	surprisingly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	about	about	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Its brain |  |  |  |  | the size of a dog *obl*; small, surprisingly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plates may have helped it warm up or show off to other stegosauruses.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stegosaurus:x6:1
# text = The plates may have helped it warm up or show off to other stegosauruses.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux	_	_
5	helped	help	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	warm	warm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
11	off	off	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	stegosauruses	stegosaurus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | may · perfect | the plates | it |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent it=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **warm up** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **show off** | infinitive |  |  | other stegosauruses |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V PP.recipient how S»: agent=Agent to stegosaurus=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother's favourite dinosaur toy is a green stegosaurus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stegosaurus:x7:1
# text = My little brother's favourite dinosaur toy is a green stegosaurus.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	favourite	favourite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	dinosaur	dinosaur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	stegosaurus	stegosaurus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My little brother's favourite dinosaur toy | a green stegosaurus |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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