---
title: tuft — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tuft» in the school dictionary: A tuft is a small bunch of hair, feathers, grass or threads growing or held close together at the bottom. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tuft

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tuft, grass, Tufts, Rabbits, owl, feathers · **What happens:** be, grow, hold, stick up, nibble, have · **To what, where:** small bunch, bottom, little bunches, tuft, back, tufts · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tuft is a small bunch of hair, feathers, grass or threads growing or held close together at the bottom.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tuft:m1:1
# text = A tuft is a small bunch of hair, feathers, grass or threads growing or held close together at the bottom.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tuft	tuft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bunch	bunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	threads	thread	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
15	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	parataxis	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	conj	_	_
18	close	close	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	17	advmod	_	_
19	together	together	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
20	at	at	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tuft | a small bunch and feathers |  |  |  | of hair | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** | gerund | grass or threads |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **hold** | participle | grass or threads *not said here* |  |  | the bottom |  | close, together *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at bottom=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
Tufts are also the little bunches of thread on carpets or toothbrushes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tuft:m2:1
# text = Tufts are also the little bunches of thread on carpets or toothbrushes.
1	Tufts	tuft	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bunches	bunch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	thread	thread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	carpets	carpet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	toothbrushes	toothbrush	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Tufts | the little bunches |  |  |  | of thread on carpets or toothbrushes | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tuft of hair stuck up on the back of his head.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tuft:x1:1
# text = A tuft of hair stuck up on the back of his head.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tuft	tuft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	stuck	stick	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stick up** | participle |  | a tuft of hair *not said here* |  | the back of his head |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme on back=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rabbits nibbled the tufts of grass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tuft:x2:1
# text = Rabbits nibbled the tufts of grass.
1	Rabbits	rabbit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	nibbled	nibble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tufts	tuft	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nibble** | past | Rabbits | the tufts of grass |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tuft=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The owl has tufts of feathers that look like ears.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tuft:x3:1
# text = The owl has tufts of feathers that look like ears.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	owl	owl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	tufts	tuft	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the owl | tufts of feathers |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tuft=Patient |
| 2 | **look** | present | feathers |  |  |  |  | like ears | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A lynx has black tufts on its ears.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tuft:x4:1
# text = A lynx has black tufts on its ears.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lynx	lynx	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	tufts	tuft	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a lynx | black tufts |  | lynx's ears |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tuft=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tuft of fur was caught on the fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tuft:x5:1
# text = A tuft of fur was caught on the fence.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tuft	tuft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	fur	fur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past · passive |  | a tuft of fur |  | the fence |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The toothbrush has rows of tufts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tuft:x6:1
# text = The toothbrush has rows of tufts.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	toothbrush	toothbrush	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	rows	row	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	tufts	tuft	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the toothbrush | rows of tufts |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent row=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Little tufts of grass grew between the stones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tuft:x7:1
# text = Little tufts of grass grew between the stones.
1	Little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	tufts	tuft	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	between	between	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | past | Little tufts of grass |  |  | the stones |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme between stone=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"What's in a tuft of hair?" said he.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tuft:x8:1
# text = "What's in a tuft of hair?" said he.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	tuft	tuft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
11	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  | a tuft |  | of hair | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: ask* | past | a tuft |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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