---
title: talon — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «talon» in the school dictionary: A talon is a long, sharp, curved claw on the foot of a bird of prey, like an eagle, owl or hawk. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# talon

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** talon, talons, long fingernails, eagle, hawk, witch · **What happens:** curve, be, look, grab, perch, protect · **To what, where:** long sharp curved claw, foot, sharp claws, stories, fish, hawk

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A talon is a long, sharp, curved claw on the foot of a bird of prey, like an eagle, owl or hawk.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talon:m1:1
# text = A talon is a long, sharp, curved claw on the foot of a bird of prey, like an eagle, owl or hawk.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	talon	talon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	curved	curve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	claw	claw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	prey	prey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
20	like	like	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	eagle	eagle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
24	owl	owl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	conj	_	_
25	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	hawk	hawk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curve** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP.material V PP.product»: agent=Material |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a talon | a long sharp curved claw |  | the foot of a bird of prey |  |  | 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 stories, talons can be any sharp claws or long fingernails that look frightening.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talon:m2:1
# text = In stories, talons can be any sharp claws or long fingernails that look frightening.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	talons	talon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
7	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	det	_	_
8	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	claws	claw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	fingernails	fingernail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
15	frightening	frightening	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | talons | any sharp claws or long fingernails |  | stories |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | present | long fingernails |  |  |  |  | frightening *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The eagle grabbed the fish with its talons.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talon:x1:1
# text = The eagle grabbed the fish with its talons.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	eagle	eagle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	grabbed	grab	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	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	talons	talon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grab** | past | the eagle | the fish |  |  |  | with eagle's talons | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An owl's talons are very sharp.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talon:x2:1
# text = An owl's talons are very sharp.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	owl	owl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	talons	talon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a owl's talons |  |  |  |  | sharp *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hawk perched on the falconer's glove, which protected his arm from its talons.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talon:x3:1
# text = The hawk perched on the falconer's glove, which protected his arm from its talons.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hawk	hawk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	perched	perch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	falconer	falconer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	glove	glove	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	protected	protect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	from	from	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	talons	talon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perch** | participle |  | the hawk *not said here* |  | the falconer's glove |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on glove=Location |
| 2 | **protect** | past | the hawk | hawk's arm |  |  |  | from arm's talons | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent arm=Beneficiary from talon=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dragon's talons scraped across the rock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talon:x4:1
# text = The dragon's talons scraped across the rock.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	talons	talon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	scraped	scrape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	across	across	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scrape** | participle |  | the dragon's talons *not said here* |  | the rock |  |  | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The witch pointed a long, talon-like fingernail at him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talon:x5:1
# text = The witch pointed a long, talon-like fingernail at him.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	witch	witch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pointed	point	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	talon	talon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	like	like	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	fingernail	fingernail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **point** | past | the witch | a long like fingernail |  |  |  | at him *= he* | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fingernail=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ospreys have rough talons to hold slippery fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talon:x6:1
# text = Ospreys have rough talons to hold slippery fish.
1	Ospreys	osprey	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	talons	talon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Ospreys | rough talons |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent talon=Patient |
| 2 | **hold** | to-infinitive | Ospreys *not said here* | slippery fish |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A hungry Hawk presently spied her, and darting to the spot seized her in his talons.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talon:x7:1
# text = A hungry Hawk presently spied her, and darting to the spot seized her in his talons.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	hungry	hungry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Hawk	Hawk	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	presently	presently	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	spied	spy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
9	darting	dart	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	csubj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	spot	spot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	seized	seize	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
14	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	talons	talon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spy** | past | a hungry Hawk | her *= she* |  |  |  | presently *property* | vn sight-30.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer she=Stimulus |
| 2 | **dart** | gerund |  |  |  | the spot |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to spot=Destination |
| 3 | **seize** | past | darting | Hawk |  | his talons |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Theme |

<!-- 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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