---
title: thumb — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «thumb» in the school dictionary: Your thumb is the short, thick finger on the side of your hand. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# thumb

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** thumb, Thumbs, She, I, He, grandma · **What happens:** be, mean, turn, give, hurt, thumb · **To what, where:** short thick finger, side, pages, me, thumb, door

<!-- .vabout -->
«thumb» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [thumb in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/thumb.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your thumb is the short, thick finger on the side of your hand.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thumb:m1:1
# text = Your thumb is the short, thick finger on the side of your hand.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	thumb	thumb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	finger	finger	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	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Your thumb | the short thick finger |  | the side of your hand |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
To thumb through a book means to turn the pages quickly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thumb:m2:1
# text = To thumb through a book means to turn the pages quickly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	thumb	thumb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	pages	page	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
11	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | thumb through a book |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **turn** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | thumb through a book *not said here* | the pages |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent page=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thumbs up means good or yes; thumbs down means bad or no.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thumb:m3:1
# text = Thumbs up means good or yes; thumbs down means bad or no.
1	Thumbs	thumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	up	up	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	thumbs	thumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	down	down	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	no.	no.	NOUN	NN	Abbr=Yes|Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Thumbs |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present | thumbs |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She gave me a thumbs up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thumb:x1:1
# text = She gave me a thumbs up.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	iobj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	thumbs	thumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	up	up	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | She |  | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I hurt my thumb in the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thumb:x2:1
# text = I hurt my thumb in the door.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hurt	hurt	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	thumb	thumb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	door	door	NOUN	NN	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 | **hurt** | past | I | my thumb |  | the door |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer thumb=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He thumbed through the comic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thumb:x3:1
# text = He thumbed through the comic.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thumbed	thumb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	comic	comic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thumb** | past | He |  |  | the comic |  |  | vn rummage-35.5-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent through comic=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My grandma has a green thumb; her plants grow so well.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thumb:x4:1
# text = My grandma has a green thumb; her plants grow so well.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	thumb	thumb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | My grandma | a green thumb |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thumb=Patient |
| 2 | **grow** | present | grandma's plants |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A rule of thumb is to drink water when you are thirsty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thumb:x5:1
# text = A rule of thumb is to drink water when you are thirsty.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	thumb	thumb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	drink	drink	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	12	mark	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	thirsty	thirsty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a rule of thumb |  |  |  |  | drink *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | thirsty *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **rule** |  | thumb |  |  |  |  |  | nom rule «cognition intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Babies often suck their thumbs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thumb:x6:1
# text = Babies often suck their thumbs.
1	Babies	baby	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	suck	suck	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	thumbs	thumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **suck** | present | Babies | Babies's thumbs |  |  |  | often *property* | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent thumb=Source |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm all thumbs today — I keep dropping things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thumb:x7:1
# text = I'm all thumbs today — I keep dropping things.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	det	_	_
4	thumbs	thumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:unmarked	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	dropping	drop	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
10	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | I | all thumbs |  |  | today |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **drop** | gerund | I *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Now this was a curious property that Fin's thumb had.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thumb:x8:1
# text = Now this was a curious property that Fin's thumb had.
1	Now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	6	advmod	_	_
2	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	curious	curious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	property	property	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	obj	_	_
8	Fin	Fin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	thumb	thumb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | this | a curious property |  |  | now |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | past | Fin's thumb | a curious property |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Patient |

<!-- 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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