---
title: tusk — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tusk» in the school dictionary: A tusk is a very long, pointed tooth that grows out of the mouth of some animals, such as elephants, walruses, wild boars and narwhals. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tusk

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tusk, long pointed tooth, Tusks, elephant, Walruses, Woolly mammoths · **What happens:** point, be, grow out, use, fight, lift · **To what, where:** long pointed tooth, mouth, Tusks, food, life, log

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tusk is a very long, pointed tooth that grows out of the mouth of some animals, such as elephants, walruses, wild boars and narwhals.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tusk:m1:1
# text = A tusk is a very long, pointed tooth that grows out of the mouth of some animals, such as elephants, walruses, wild boars and narwhals.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tusk	tusk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	out	out	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	mouth	mouth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	18	det	_	_
18	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
20	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	22	case	_	_
21	as	as	ADP	IN	_	20	fixed	_	_
22	elephants	elephant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
24	walruses	walrus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
26	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	boars	boar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	_
28	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	narwhals	narwhal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	27	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	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 tusk | a long pointed tooth |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **grow out** | present | a long pointed tooth | the mouth of some animals and elephants and walruses and wild boars and narwhals |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location mouth=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Tusks are used for digging, fighting, lifting and getting food, and they keep growing through the animal's life.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tusk:m2:1
# text = Tusks are used for digging, fighting, lifting and getting food, and they keep growing through the animal's life.
1	Tusks	tusk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	digging	digging	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	fighting	fight	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	lifting	lift	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	_
12	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
17	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	xcomp	_	_
18	through	through	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	's	's	PART	POS	_	20	case	_	_
22	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Tusks |  |  |  | for digging | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: subject=Theme for digging=Eventuality |
| 2 | **fight** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **lift** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **get** | gerund |  | food |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer food=Stimulus |
| 5 | **keep** | present | Tusks *= tusk* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **grow** | gerund | Tusks *= tusk* *not said here* |  |  | the animal's life |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through life=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The elephant lifted the log with its tusks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tusk:x1:1
# text = The elephant lifted the log with its tusks.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	elephant	elephant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lifted	lift	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	log	log	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	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	tusks	tusk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lift** | past | the elephant | the log |  |  |  | with elephant's tusks | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent log=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Walruses use their tusks to haul themselves onto the ice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tusk:x2:1
# text = Walruses use their tusks to haul themselves onto the ice.
1	Walruses	walrus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	tusks	tusk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	haul	haul	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	6	obj	_	_
8	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Walruses | Walruses's tusks |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tusk=Patient |
| 2 | **haul** | to-infinitive | Walruses *not said here* | tusks *= tusk* |  | the ice |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent themselves=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A narwhal's tusk is really one long spiral tooth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tusk:x3:1
# text = A narwhal's tusk is really one long spiral tooth.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	narwhal	narwhal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	tusk	tusk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
6	really	really	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
8	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	spiral	spiral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a narwhal's tusk | one long spiral tooth |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Woolly mammoths had huge curved tusks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tusk:x4:1
# text = Woolly mammoths had huge curved tusks.
1	Woolly	woolly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	mammoths	mammoth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	curved	curve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	tusks	tusk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Woolly mammoths | huge curved tusks |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tusk=Patient |
| 2 | **curve** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP.material V PP.product»: agent=Material |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Elephant tusks are made of ivory.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tusk:x5:1
# text = Elephant tusks are made of ivory.
1	Elephant	elephant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	tusks	tusk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	ivory	ivory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | Elephant tusks |  |  |  | of ivory | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wild boar's tusks were sharp and curved.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tusk:x6:1
# text = The wild boar's tusks were sharp and curved.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boar	boar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	tusks	tusk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	curved	curve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the wild boar's tusks |  |  |  |  | sharp *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **curve** | participle | the wild boar's tusks *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP.material V PP.product»: agent=Material |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Poachers hunt elephants for their tusks, which is against the law.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tusk:x7:1
# text = Poachers hunt elephants for their tusks, which is against the law.
1	Poachers	poacher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hunt	hunt	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	elephants	elephant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	tusks	tusk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	against	against	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hunt** | present | Poachers | elephants |  |  |  | for Poachers's tusks | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent elephant=Location for tusk=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | Poachers's tusks |  |  |  |  | against the law | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some elephants are born without tusks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tusk:x8:1
# text = Some elephants are born without tusks.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	elephants	elephant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	without	without	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	tusks	tusk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bear** | present · passive |  | some elephants |  |  |  | without tusks | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lay your beast alongside, Toomai, and let him prod with his tusks.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tusk:x9:1
# text = Lay your beast alongside, Toomai, and let him prod with his tusks.
1	Lay	lay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	beast	beast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	alongside	alongside	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	Toomai	Toomai	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
10	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	prod	prod	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	tusks	tusk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lay** | imperative | you *not said here* | your beast |  |  |  | Toomai *obl*; alongside *property* | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent beast=Result |
| 2 | **let** | infinitive | you *not said here* | Toomai |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **prod** | infinitive | Toomai *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with Toomai's tusks | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with tusk=Instrument |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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