---
title: thorn — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «thorn» in the school dictionary: A thorn is a sharp, pointed part on the stem of a plant like a rose or bramble. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# thorn

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** thorn, thing, I, thorns, you, hawthorn tree · **What happens:** point, be, stem, mean, keep, trouble · **To what, where:** sharp pointed part, stem, plant, person, you, finger

<!-- .vabout -->
«thorn» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [thorn in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/thorn.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A thorn is a sharp, pointed part on the stem of a plant like a rose or bramble.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorn:m1:1
# text = A thorn is a sharp, pointed part on the stem of a plant like a rose or bramble.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thorn	thorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	stem	stem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
15	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	rose	rose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	bramble	bramble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **point** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a thorn | a sharp pointed part |  | the stem of a plant like a rose or bramble |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **stem** |  |  | a plant like a rose or bramble |  |  |  |  | nom stem «communication transitive»: of=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 -->
A thorn is a plant or bush with thorns, like a hawthorn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorn:m2:1
# text = A thorn is a plant or bush with thorns, like a hawthorn.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thorn	thorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	bush	bush	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	thorns	thorn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	hawthorn	hawthorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a thorn | a plant or bush with thorns and a hawthorn |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«A thorn in your side» means a person or thing that keeps annoying or troubling you.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorn:m3:1
# text = «A thorn in your side» means a person or thing that keeps annoying or troubling you.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	thorn	thorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
15	annoying	annoying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	xcomp	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	troubling	trouble	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	conj	_	_
18	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a thorn in your side | a person or thing |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent person=Topic |
| 2 | **keep** | present | thing |  |  |  |  | annoying *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **trouble** | gerund | thing *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus you=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I pricked my finger on a rose thorn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorn:x1:1
# text = I pricked my finger on a rose thorn.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pricked	prick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	rose	rose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	thorn	thorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prick** | past | I | my finger |  | a rose thorn |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer finger=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The thorns protect the plant from goats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorn:x2:1
# text = The thorns protect the plant from goats.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thorns	thorn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	protect	protect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	goats	goat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **protect** | present | the thorns | the plant |  |  |  | from goats | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent plant=Beneficiary from goat=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wear gloves when you pick blackberries because of the thorns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorn:x3:1
# text = Wear gloves when you pick blackberries because of the thorns.
1	Wear	wear	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	gloves	glove	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	5	mark	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	pick	pick	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
6	blackberries	blackberry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	thorns	thorn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | imperative | you *not said here* | gloves |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent glove=Theme |
| 2 | **pick** | present | you | blackberries |  |  |  | because the thorns | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent blackberry=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A thorn got stuck in the dog's paw.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorn:x4:1
# text = A thorn got stuck in the dog's paw.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thorn	thorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	stuck	stuck	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	paw	paw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | a thorn |  |  |  |  | stuck *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle was hidden behind a wall of thorns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorn:x5:1
# text = The castle was hidden behind a wall of thorns.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	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	hidden	hide	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	thorns	thorn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | past · passive |  | the castle |  | a wall of thorns |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Patient behind wall=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hawthorn tree has long thorns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorn:x6:1
# text = The hawthorn tree has long thorns.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	hawthorn	hawthorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	thorns	thorn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the hawthorn tree | long thorns |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thorn=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That noisy neighbour is a thorn in my side.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorn:x7:1
# text = That noisy neighbour is a thorn in my side.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
2	noisy	noisy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	neighbour	neighbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	thorn	thorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | that noisy neighbour | a thorn |  | my side |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum pulled the thorn out with tweezers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorn:x8:1
# text = Mum pulled the thorn out with tweezers.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pulled	pull	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	thorn	thorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	tweezers	tweezer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull out** | past | Mum | the thorn |  |  |  | with tweezers | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A LION, roaming through a forest, trod upon a thorn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorn:x9:1
# text = A LION, roaming through a forest, trod upon a thorn.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	LION	lion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	roaming	roam	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
9	trod	tread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	thorn	thorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **roam** | gerund | a LION *not said here* |  |  | a forest |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through forest=Trajectory |
| 2 | **tread** | past | a LION |  |  | a thorn |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme upon thorn=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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