---
title: tapir — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tapir» in the school dictionary: A tapir is a large, plant-eating animal shaped a bit like a pig, with a short, bendy nose (snout) like a tiny trunk. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tapir

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tapir, large eating animal, Tapirs, Baby tapirs, Malayan tapir, rainforest · **What happens:** eat, be, shape, live, use, grab · **To what, where:** large eating animal, bit, forests, good swimmers, bendy snout, leaves

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tapir is a large, plant-eating animal shaped a bit like a pig, with a short, bendy nose (snout) like a tiny trunk.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tapir:m1:1
# text = A tapir is a large, plant-eating animal shaped a bit like a pig, with a short, bendy nose (snout) like a tiny trunk.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tapir	tapir	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	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	amod	_	_
10	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl:unmarked	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	pig	pig	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
18	with	with	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
20	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
22	bendy	bendy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
24	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	snout	snout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	25	punct	_	_
27	like	like	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
29	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	30	amod	_	_
30	trunk	trunk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	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 tapir | a large eating animal and a short bendy nose  snout like a tiny trunk |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **shape** | participle | a large eating animal and a short bendy nose  snout like a tiny trunk *not said here* | a bit |  |  |  | like a pig | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

<!-- .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 -->
Tapirs live in forests of Central and South America and South-East Asia, and are good swimmers.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tapir:m2:1
# text = Tapirs live in forests of Central and South America and South-East Asia, and are good swimmers.
1	Tapirs	tapir	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	forests	forest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Central	Central	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	South	South	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	South	South	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	East	East	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	Asia	Asia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
18	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	swimmers	swimmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Tapirs |  |  | forests of Central and South America and South and East Asia |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in forest=Location |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | good swimmers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tapir uses its bendy snout to grab leaves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tapir:x1:1
# text = A tapir uses its bendy snout to grab leaves.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tapir	tapir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	bendy	bendy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	snout	snout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	grab	grab	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | a tapir | tapir's bendy snout |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent snout=Patient |
| 2 | **grab** | to-infinitive | a tapir *not said here* | leaves |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leaf=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Baby tapirs have stripes like a watermelon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tapir:x2:1
# text = Baby tapirs have stripes like a watermelon.
1	Baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	tapirs	tapir	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	stripes	stripe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	watermelon	watermelon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Baby tapirs | stripes |  |  |  | like a watermelon | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stripe=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tapir hid in the river to escape the jaguar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tapir:x3:1
# text = The tapir hid in the river to escape the jaguar.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tapir	tapir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	escape	escape	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	jaguar	jaguar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | past | the tapir |  |  | the river |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in river=Location |
| 2 | **escape** | to-infinitive | the tapir *not said here* | the jaguar |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme jaguar=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tapirs are related to horses and rhinos.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tapir:x4:1
# text = Tapirs are related to horses and rhinos.
1	Tapirs	tapir	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	related	related	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	horses	horse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	rhinos	rhino	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Tapirs |  |  |  |  | to horses and rhinos; related *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Malayan tapir is black and white.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tapir:x5:1
# text = The Malayan tapir is black and white.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Malayan	malayan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tapir	tapir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the Malayan tapir |  |  |  |  | black *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the Malayan tapir *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tapirs are in danger because the rainforest is shrinking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tapir:x6:1
# text = Tapirs are in danger because the rainforest is shrinking.
1	Tapirs	tapir	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	rainforest	rainforest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	shrinking	shrink	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Tapirs |  |  | danger |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **shrink** | present · progressive | the rainforest |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then there is the story of how the tortoise pretended that he was stronger than the tapir.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tapir:x7:1
# text = Then there is the story of how the tortoise pretended that he was stronger than the tapir.
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
2	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	3	expl	_	_
3	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	pretended	pretend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl	_	_
11	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	stronger	strong	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	xcomp	_	_
15	than	than	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	tapir	tapir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | the story |  |  | there | then |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **pretend** | past | the tortoise |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | past | tortoise |  |  |  |  | than the tapir; strong *property* | 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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