---
title: thinning — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «thinning» in the school dictionary: Thinning means becoming thinner or less thick. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# thinning

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Thinning, hair, people, gardening, others, crowd · **What happens:** mean, become, thin, be, get, do · **To what, where:** hair, less, young plants, room, top, carrot seedlings

<!-- .vabout -->
«thinning» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [thinning in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/thinning.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thinning means becoming thinner or less thick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinning:m1:1
# text = Thinning means becoming thinner or less thick.
1	Thinning	thinning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	becoming	become	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	thinner	thin	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	_
7	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Thinning |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **become** *not said to happen* | gerund | Thinning *not said here* |  |  |  |  | thin *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Thinning hair is hair that is getting less, as some people's does when they get older.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinning:m2:1
# text = Thinning hair is hair that is getting less, as some people's does when they get older.
1	Thinning	thin	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
11	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	det	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
15	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	17	advmod	_	_
16	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
18	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	17	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thin** | gerund |  | hair |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent hair=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Thinning | hair |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **get** | present · progressive | hair | less |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer less=Stimulus |
| 4 | **do** | present | some people |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **get** | present | people |  |  |  |  | old *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In gardening, thinning (out) means pulling up some young plants so the others have room to grow.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinning:m3:1
# text = In gardening, thinning (out) means pulling up some young plants so the others have room to grow.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	gardening	gardening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	thinning	thin	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	pulling	pull	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	13	det	_	_
12	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
14	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
17	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
18	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thin out** | gerund | gardening *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present | gardening |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **pull up** *not said to happen* | gerund | gardening *not said here* | some young plants |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plant=Theme |
| 4 | **have** | present | the others | room |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent room=Patient |
| 5 | **grow** | to-infinitive | the others *not said here* | room *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A crowd or traffic that is thinning is getting smaller.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinning:m4:1
# text = A crowd or traffic that is thinning is getting smaller.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	thinning	thin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	acl	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
10	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thin** | present · progressive | a crowd or traffic |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **get** | present · progressive | a crowd or traffic |  |  |  |  | small *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad's hair is thinning on top.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinning:x1:1
# text = Grandad's hair is thinning on top.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	thinning	thin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thin** | present · progressive | Grandad's hair |  |  | top |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We are thinning the carrot seedlings so they can grow big.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinning:x2:1
# text = We are thinning the carrot seedlings so they can grow big.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	thinning	thin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	carrot	carrot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	seedlings	seedling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
11	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thin** | present · progressive | We | the carrot seedlings |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent seedling=Patient |
| 2 | **grow** | can | seedlings *= seedling* |  |  |  |  | big *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crowd was thinning after the concert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinning:x3:1
# text = The crowd was thinning after the concert.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	thinning	thin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	concert	concert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thin** | past · progressive | the crowd |  |  |  | after the concert |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists worry about the thinning ice in the Arctic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinning:x4:1
# text = Scientists worry about the thinning ice in the Arctic.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	worry	worry	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	thinning	thinning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Arctic	Arctic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **worry** | present | Scientists |  |  |  |  | about the thinning ice in the Arctic | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus what S»: agent=Experiencer about ice=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Add water for thinning the paint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinning:x5:1
# text = Add water for thinning the paint.
1	Add	add	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	thinning	thin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | water |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Patient |
| 2 | **thin** | gerund | you *not said here* | the paint |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent paint=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trees were thinning as we got higher up the mountain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinning:x6:1
# text = The trees were thinning as we got higher up the mountain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	thinning	thin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	higher	high	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	xcomp	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thin** | past · progressive | the trees |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **get** | past | we |  |  |  |  | high *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Traffic is thinning now that rush hour is over.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thinning:x7:1
# text = Traffic is thinning now that rush hour is over.
1	Traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	thinning	thin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	rush	rush	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
7	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	over	over	ADV	RB	_	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thin** | present · progressive | Traffic |  |  |  | now |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **rush** | present | that |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present | hour |  |  |  |  | over *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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