---
title: stoat — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «stoat» in the school dictionary: A stoat is a small, fierce, meat-eating animal with a long thin body, short legs, brown fur and a black tip on its tail. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# stoat

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** stoat, fur, tail tip, stoats, pests, Rangers · **What happens:** eat, be, turn, call, kill, stay · **To what, where:** small eating animal, cold places, fur, rabbit, pests, New Zealand · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A stoat is a small, fierce, meat-eating animal with a long thin body, short legs, brown fur and a black tip on its tail.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stoat:m1:1
# text = A stoat is a small, fierce, meat-eating animal with a long thin body, short legs, brown fur and a black tip on its tail.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stoat	stoat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
9	meat	meat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	amod	_	_
12	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
15	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
16	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
22	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	fur	fur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	tip	tip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
28	on	on	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	30	nmod:poss	_	_
30	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	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** | present | a stoat | a small eating animal |  |  |  | with a long thin body and short legs and brown fur and a black tip on stoat'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 -->
In cold places a stoat's fur turns white in winter, except for the black tail tip; it is then called ermine.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stoat:m2:1
# text = In cold places a stoat's fur turns white in winter, except for the black tail tip; it is then called ermine.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	stoat	stoat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	fur	fur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
13	except	except	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
16	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
17	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	tip	tip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj:pass	_	_
21	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	aux:pass	_	_
22	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	23	advmod	_	_
23	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	parataxis	_	_
24	ermine	ermine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | a stoat's fur |  |  | cold places | winter | except the black tail tip; white *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme in place=Trajectory |
| 2 | **call** | present · passive |  | fur |  |  | then |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A stoat can kill a rabbit bigger than itself.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stoat:x1:1
# text = A stoat can kill a rabbit bigger than itself.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stoat	stoat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	kill	kill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rabbit	rabbit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
8	than	than	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kill** | can | a stoat | a rabbit |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rabbit=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The stoat's fur turned white in winter, but its tail tip stayed black.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stoat:x2:1
# text = The stoat's fur turned white in winter, but its tail tip stayed black.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stoat	stoat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	fur	fur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
12	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	tip	tip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
15	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | the stoat's fur |  |  |  | winter | white *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **stay** | past | fur's tail tip |  |  |  |  | black *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In New Zealand, stoats are pests that eat kiwi chicks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stoat:x3:1
# text = In New Zealand, stoats are pests that eat kiwi chicks.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	flat	_	_
3	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	stoats	stoat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	pests	pest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	kiwi	kiwi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	chicks	chick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | stoats | pests |  | New Zealand |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** | present | pests | kiwi chicks |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chick=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rangers set traps to protect native birds from stoats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stoat:x4:1
# text = Rangers set traps to protect native birds from stoats.
1	Rangers	ranger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	set	set	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	traps	trap	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	protect	protect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	native	native	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	stoats	stoat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **set** | present | Rangers | traps |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Patient trap=Result |
| 2 | **protect** | to-infinitive | Rangers *not said here* |  | native birds |  |  | from stoats | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent bird=Beneficiary from stoat=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How to tell a stoat from a weasel: the stoat is bigger and has a black tail tip.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stoat:x5:1
# text = How to tell a stoat from a weasel: the stoat is bigger and has a black tail tip.
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	stoat	stoat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	weasel	weasel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	stoat	stoat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	parataxis	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
17	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
18	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	tip	tip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  | a stoat |  |  |  | from a weasel | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent stoat=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | present | the stoat |  |  |  |  | big *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **have** | present | the stoat *not said here* | a black tail tip |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tip=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The stoat danced to confuse the rabbit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stoat:x6:1
# text = The stoat danced to confuse the rabbit.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stoat	stoat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	danced	dance	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	confuse	confuse	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	rabbit	rabbit	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 | **dance** | past | the stoat |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **confuse** | to-infinitive | the stoat *not said here* | the rabbit |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rabbit=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In The Wind in the Willows, stoats and weasels take over Toad Hall.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stoat:x7:1
# text = In The Wind in the Willows, stoats and weasels take over Toad Hall.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Wind	Wind	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Willows	Willow	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	stoats	stoat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	weasels	weasel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
11	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	over	over	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	Hall	Hall	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | stoats and weasels |  |  | the Wind in the Willows |  | over Toad Hall | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent in wind=Location |

<!-- 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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