---
title: thinly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «thinly» in the school dictionary: Thinly means in a thin layer or in thin pieces: «spread the butter thinly». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# thinly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, She, many · **What happens:** mean, spread, populate, be, see through, disguise · **To what, where:** butter, few people, large area, cucumber, glue, card · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«thinly» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [thinly in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/thinly.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thinly means in a thin layer or in thin pieces: «spread the butter thinly».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinly:m1:1
# text = Thinly means in a thin layer or in thin pieces: «spread the butter thinly».
1	Thinly	thinly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	butter	butter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	thinly	thinly	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | in a thin layer or thin pieces; thinly *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in layer=Attribute |
| 2 | **spread** *in a quote* | past |  | the butter |  |  |  | thinly *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location butter=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Thinly means with few people or things spread over a large area: «thinly populated».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinly:m2:1
# text = Thinly means with few people or things spread over a large area: «thinly populated».
1	Thinly	thinly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	spread	spread	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
9	over	over	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	thinly	thinly	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	populated	populate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with few people or things; thinly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **spread** | participle |  | few people or things *not said here* |  | a large area |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over area=Location |
| 3 | **populate** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | thinly *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thinly means only slightly, so that it is easy to see through: «a thinly disguised trick».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinly:m3:1
# text = Thinly means only slightly, so that it is easy to see through: «a thinly disguised trick».
1	Thinly	thinly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	slightly	slightly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	10	mark	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	expl	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	through	through	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
17	thinly	thinly	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	disguised	disguise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	amod	_	_
19	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | slightly, thinly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **see through** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | through *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **disguise** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | thinly *property* | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slice the cucumber thinly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinly:x1:1
# text = Slice the cucumber thinly.
1	Slice	slice	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cucumber	cucumber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	thinly	thinly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slice** | imperative | you *not said here* | the cucumber |  |  |  | thinly *property* | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cucumber=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spread the glue thinly over the card.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinly:x2:1
# text = Spread the glue thinly over the card.
1	Spread	spread	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	glue	glue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	thinly	thinly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	card	card	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | imperative | you *not said here* | the glue |  | the card |  | thinly *property* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent glue=Theme over card=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Northern Canada is thinly populated.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinly:x3:1
# text = Northern Canada is thinly populated.
1	Northern	northern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	thinly	thinly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	populated	populate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **populate** | present · passive |  | Northern Canada |  |  |  | thinly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She smiled thinly, not really pleased.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinly:x4:1
# text = She smiled thinly, not really pleased.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	smiled	smile	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	thinly	thinly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	really	really	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	pleased	pleased	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smile** | past | She |  |  |  |  | thinly *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The paint was spread too thinly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinly:x5:1
# text = The paint was spread too thinly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	spread	spread	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	thinly	thinly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | past · passive |  | the paint |  |  |  | thinly *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teachers are spread thinly when many are off sick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinly:x6:1
# text = Our teachers are spread thinly when many are off sick.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teachers	teacher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	spread	spread	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	thinly	thinly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	off	off	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	sick	sick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | present · passive |  | Our teachers |  |  |  | thinly *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | many |  |  |  |  | off, sick *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The seeds were sown thinly in the tray.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinly:x7:1
# text = The seeds were sown thinly in the tray.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	sown	sow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	thinly	thinly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tray	tray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sow** | past · passive |  | the seeds |  | the tray |  | thinly *property* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in tray=Destination |

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**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.

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