---
title: termite — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «termite» in the school dictionary: A small, pale insect that lives in large groups called colonies, eats wood, and builds big nests or mounds. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# termite

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small pale insect, large groups, Termites, We, termite colony, animals · **What happens:** live, call, eat, build, see, step · **To what, where:** large groups, colonies, wood, big nests, huge colonies, tall termite mounds · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small, pale insect that lives in large groups called colonies, eats wood, and builds big nests or mounds.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:termite:m1:1
# text = A small, pale insect that lives in large groups called colonies, eats wood, and builds big nests or mounds.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	pale	pale	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
11	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	colonies	colony	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
14	eats	eat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	builds	build	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	_
19	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	nests	nest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	mounds	mound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | a small pale insect |  |  | large groups |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in group=Location |
| 2 | **call** | participle | large groups *not said here* | colonies |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **eat** | present | a small pale insect | wood |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wood=Patient |
| 4 | **build** | present | a small pale insect *not said here* | big nests or mounds |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset nest=Product |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Termites live in huge colonies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:termite:x1:1
# text = Termites live in huge colonies.
1	Termites	termite	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	_	5	case	_	_
4	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	colonies	colony	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Termites |  |  | huge colonies |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in colony=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw tall termite mounds in Australia.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:termite:x2:1
# text = We saw tall termite mounds in Australia.
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	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	termite	termite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	mounds	mound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | tall termite mounds |  | Australia |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer mound=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Termites ate the wooden steps of the old house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:termite:x3:1
# text = Termites ate the wooden steps of the old house.
1	Termites	termite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | past | Termites | the wooden steps of the old house |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent step=Patient |
| 2 | **step** |  |  | the old house |  |  |  |  | nom step «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A termite colony has a queen, workers and soldiers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:termite:x4:1
# text = A termite colony has a queen, workers and soldiers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	termite	termite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	colony	colony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a termite colony | a queen and workers and soldiers |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent queen=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some animals, like echidnas and aardvarks, eat termites.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:termite:x5:1
# text = Some animals, like echidnas and aardvarks, eat termites.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	echidnas	echidna	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	aardvarks	aardvark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
9	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	termites	termite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | some animals and echidnas and aardvarks | termites |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent termite=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pest controller checked the house for termites.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:termite:x6:1
# text = The pest controller checked the house for termites.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	pest	pest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	controller	controller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	checked	check	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	termites	termite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | past | the pest controller | the house |  |  |  | for termites | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent house=Theme for termite=Attribute |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Termite mounds stay cool inside because of air tunnels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:termite:x7:1
# text = Termite mounds stay cool inside because of air tunnels.
1	Termite	termite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	mounds	mound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stay	stay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	cool	cool	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
6	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	tunnels	tunnel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | present | Termite mounds |  |  |  |  | because air tunnels; cool, inside *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=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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