---
title: tinsel — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tinsel» in the school dictionary: Tinsel is long strings of thin, shiny, glittering material used as decoration, especially at Christmas. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tinsel

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Tinsel, We, angel, cat, people, Christmas · **What happens:** be, glitter, use, mean, look, have · **To what, where:** long strings, material, Christmas, something, little real value, silver tinsel

<!-- .vabout -->
«tinsel» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [tinsel in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tinsel.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tinsel is long strings of thin, shiny, glittering material used as decoration, especially at Christmas.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tinsel:m1:1
# text = Tinsel is long strings of thin, shiny, glittering material used as decoration, especially at Christmas.
1	Tinsel	tinsel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	shiny	shiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	glittering	glitter	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	conj	_	_
11	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	acl	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	decoration	decoration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
17	at	at	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Tinsel | long strings |  |  |  | of thin | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Tinsel *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **glitter** | gerund | Tinsel *not said here* | material |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent material=Theme |
| 4 | **use** | participle |  | material *not said here* |  | Christmas |  | as decoration | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Tinsel can also mean something that looks bright and exciting but has little real value.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tinsel:m2:1
# text = Tinsel can also mean something that looks bright and exciting but has little real value.
1	Tinsel	tinsel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
11	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
13	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
14	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	value	value	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Tinsel | something |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 2 | **look** | present |  |  |  |  |  | bright *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **have** | present |  | little real value |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent value=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We wrapped silver tinsel around the Christmas tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tinsel:x1:1
# text = We wrapped silver tinsel around the Christmas tree.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrapped	wrap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	silver	silver	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	tinsel	tinsel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	around	around	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	tree	tree	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 | **wrap** | past | We | silver tinsel |  | the Christmas tree |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent tinsel=Theme around tree=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The angel in the nativity play wore tinsel as a halo.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tinsel:x2:1
# text = The angel in the nativity play wore tinsel as a halo.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	angel	angel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	nativity	nativity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	wore	wear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	tinsel	tinsel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	halo	halo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | past | the angel in the nativity play |  |  |  |  | as a halo; tinsel *property* | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V PP-Conative»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tinsel sparkled in the classroom window.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tinsel:x3:1
# text = Tinsel sparkled in the classroom window.
1	Tinsel	tinsel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	sparkled	sparkle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	classroom	classroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sparkle** | participle |  | Tinsel *not said here* |  | the classroom window |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in window=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat kept pulling the tinsel off the tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tinsel:x4:1
# text = The cat kept pulling the tinsel off the tree.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	pulling	pull	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	tinsel	tinsel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	off	off	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	tree	tree	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 | **keep** | past | the cat |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pull** | gerund | the cat *not said here* | the tinsel |  | the tree |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent tinsel=Theme off tree=Initial\_Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Australia, people hang tinsel even though Christmas is in summer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tinsel:x5:1
# text = In Australia, people hang tinsel even though Christmas is in summer.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	hang	hang	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	tinsel	tinsel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	even	even	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
8	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
9	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hang** | present | people | tinsel |  | Australia |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent tinsel=Theme in australia=Destination |
| 2 | **is** | present | Christmas |  |  |  |  | in summer | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film star's life was all tinsel and no real happiness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tinsel:x6:1
# text = The film star's life was all tinsel and no real happiness.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	star	star	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	tinsel	tinsel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	12	det	_	_
11	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	happiness	happiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the film star's life | all tinsel and no real happiness |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The golden star of tinsel was still on the top of the Tree, and glittered in the sunshine.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tinsel:x7:1
# text = The golden star of tinsel was still on the top of the Tree, and glittered in the sunshine.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	golden	golden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	star	star	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	tinsel	tinsel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	still	still	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Tree	Tree	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	glittered	glitter	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	sunshine	sunshine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the golden star of tinsel |  |  | the top | still | of the Tree | tree rules |
| 2 | **glitter** | participle | the golden star of tinsel *not said here* |  |  | the sunshine |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in sunshine=Location |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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