---
title: uncurl — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «uncurl» in the school dictionary: To uncurl means to open out or straighten from a curled shape: a hedgehog uncurls when it feels safe. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# uncurl

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** hedgehog, dog, Fern leaves, cat, you, We · **What happens:** uncurl, mean, open out, straighten, curl, feel · **To what, where:** curled shape, something, it, fingers, sunshine, old map · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To uncurl means to open out or straighten from a curled shape: a hedgehog uncurls when it feels safe.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncurl:m1:1
# text = To uncurl means to open out or straighten from a curled shape: a hedgehog uncurls when it feels safe.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	uncurl	uncurl	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	open	open	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	straighten	straighten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	curled	curl	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	amod	_	_
12	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	hedgehog	hedgehog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
16	uncurls	uncurl	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
17	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	19	mark	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	feels	feel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	_	_
20	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **uncurl** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **open out** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **straighten** | infinitive |  |  |  | a curled shape |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 5 | **curl** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn coil-9.6-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Theme |
| 6 | **uncurl** | present | a hedgehog |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 7 | **feel** | present | hedgehog |  |  |  |  | safe *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 uncurl something means to straighten it out, like uncurling your fingers or a rolled-up poster.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncurl:m2:1
# text = To uncurl something means to straighten it out, like uncurling your fingers or a rolled-up poster.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	uncurl	uncurl	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	straighten	straighten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	uncurling	uncurl	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
12	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
16	rolled	roll	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	up	up	ADP	RP	_	16	compound:prt	_	_
19	poster	poster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **uncurl** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **straighten out** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 4 | **uncurl** | gerund |  | your fingers or a rolled poster |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **roll up** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hedgehog uncurled when the dog went away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncurl:x1:1
# text = The hedgehog uncurled when the dog went away.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hedgehog	hedgehog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uncurled	uncurl	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	away	away	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **uncurl** | participle | the hedgehog |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go away** | past | the dog |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fern leaves uncurl in spring like little green springs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncurl:x2:1
# text = Fern leaves uncurl in spring like little green springs.
1	Fern	fern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uncurl	uncurl	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	springs	spring	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **uncurl** | present | Fern leaves |  |  |  | spring |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat uncurled and stretched in the sunshine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncurl:x3:1
# text = The cat uncurled and stretched in the sunshine.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uncurled	uncurl	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	stretched	stretch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sunshine	sunshine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **uncurl** | participle | the cat |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stretch** | participle | the cat *not said here* |  |  | the sunshine |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slowly uncurl your fingers to show what you are holding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncurl:x4:1
# text = Slowly uncurl your fingers to show what you are holding.
1	Slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	uncurl	uncurl	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	10	obj	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	holding	hold	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **uncurl** | imperative | you *not said here* | your fingers |  |  |  | slowly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **hold** | present · progressive | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We uncurled the old map and pinned it on the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncurl:x5:1
# text = We uncurled the old map and pinned it on the wall.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	uncurled	uncurl	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	map	map	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	pinned	pin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **uncurl** | past | We | the old map |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pin** | past | We *not said here* | map |  |  |  | on the wall | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent it=Patient on wall=Co-Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A woodlouse rolls into a ball and uncurls when it feels safe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncurl:x6:1
# text = A woodlouse rolls into a ball and uncurls when it feels safe.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	woodlouse	woodlouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rolls	roll	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	uncurls	uncurl	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	11	mark	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	feels	feel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
12	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **roll** | present | a woodlouse |  |  | a ball |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into ball=Destination |
| 2 | **uncurl** | present | a woodlouse *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **feel** | present | woodlouse |  |  |  |  | safe *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And then the dragon uncurled himself from around the North Pole, and stretched his long, icy length over the snow, and said: "This is something like!

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncurl:x7:1
# text = And then the dragon uncurled himself from around the North Pole, and stretched his long, icy length over the snow, and said: "This is something like!
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
2	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	uncurled	uncurl	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	5	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	around	around	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	North	North	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	Pole	Pole	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	stretched	stretch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
15	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
16	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
18	icy	icy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	length	length	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
20	over	over	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	30	punct	_	_
27	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	30	nsubj	_	_
29	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	30	cop	_	_
30	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	25	obl	_	_
31	like	like	ADP	IN	_	30	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **uncurl** | past | the dragon | dragon |  | the North Pole | then |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stretch** | past | the dragon *not said here* | dragon's long icy length |  | the snow |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent length=Patient |
| 3 | **say** *speech: express* | past | the dragon *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | This | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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