---
title: whiskers — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «whiskers» in the school dictionary: Whiskers are the long, stiff hairs that grow near the mouth and nose of animals such as cats, dogs, mice and seals, used for feeling things around them. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# whiskers

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Whiskers, long stiff hairs, hair, whisker, we, cat · **What happens:** be, grow, use, feel, mean, win · **To what, where:** long stiff hairs, mouth, things, hair, face, mouse · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whiskers are the long, stiff hairs that grow near the mouth and nose of animals such as cats, dogs, mice and seals, used for feeling things around them.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whiskers:m1:1
# text = Whiskers are the long, stiff hairs that grow near the mouth and nose of animals such as cats, dogs, mice and seals, used for feeling things around them.
1	Whiskers	whisker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	stiff	stiff	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	hairs	hair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	near	near	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	mouth	mouth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	_
17	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	19	case	_	_
18	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	fixed	_	_
19	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	mice	mouse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	seals	seal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
27	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	conj	_	_
28	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	29	mark	_	_
29	feeling	feel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	27	advcl	_	_
30	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	29	obj	_	_
31	around	around	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
32	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	29	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Whiskers | the long stiff hairs |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** | present | the long stiff hairs |  |  | the mouth and nose of animals such cats and dogs and mice and seals |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme near mouth=Location |
| 3 | **use** | participle | the long stiff hairs *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **feel** | gerund | the long stiff hairs *not said here* | things |  |  |  | around Whiskers *= whisker* | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent thing=Theme around they=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 -->
Whiskers can also mean the hair growing on a man's face.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whiskers:m2:1
# text = Whiskers can also mean the hair growing on a man's face.
1	Whiskers	whisker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Whiskers | the hair |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hair=Topic |
| 2 | **grow** | gerund | the hair *not said here* |  |  | a man's face |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on face=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«By a whisker» means by a tiny amount: «we won by a whisker».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whiskers:m3:1
# text = «By a whisker» means by a tiny amount: «we won by a whisker».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	By	by	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	whisker	whisker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
15	by	by	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	whisker	whisker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a whisker |  |  |  |  | by a tiny amount | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **win** *in a quote* | past | we |  |  |  |  | by a whisker | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat's whiskers twitched when it heard the mouse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whiskers:x1:1
# text = The cat's whiskers twitched when it heard the mouse.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	whiskers	whisker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	twitched	twitch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **twitch** | past | the cat's whiskers |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **hear** | past | cat | the mouse |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer mouse=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cats use their whiskers to feel if they fit through a gap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whiskers:x2:1
# text = Cats use their whiskers to feel if they fit through a gap.
1	Cats	cat	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	whiskers	whisker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	fit	fit	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
10	through	through	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	gap	gap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Cats | Cats's whiskers |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent whisker=Patient |
| 2 | **feel** | to-infinitive | Cats *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **fit** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | Cats *= cat* |  |  | a gap |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent through gap=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Seals find fish with their whiskers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whiskers:x3:1
# text = Seals find fish with their whiskers.
1	Seals	seal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	find	find	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	whiskers	whisker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | present | Seals | fish |  |  |  | with Seals's whiskers | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad's whiskers tickled when he kissed me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whiskers:x4:1
# text = Grandad's whiskers tickled when he kissed me.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	whiskers	whisker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tickled	tickle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	kissed	kiss	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tickle** | past | Grandad's whiskers |  |  |  |  |  | vn tingle-40.8.2 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **kiss** | past | Grandad | me |  |  |  |  | vn marry-36.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Co-Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We won the race by a whisker.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whiskers:x5:1
# text = We won the race by a whisker.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	whisker	whisker	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 | **win** | past | We | the race |  |  |  | by a whisker | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent race=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never cut a cat's whiskers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whiskers:x6:1
# text = Never cut a cat's whiskers.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	cut	cut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	whiskers	whisker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **cut** | imperative | you *not said here* | a cat's whiskers |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset whisker=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mouse had long whiskers and a pink nose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whiskers:x7:1
# text = The mouse had long whiskers and a pink nose.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	whiskers	whisker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	pink	pink	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the mouse | long whiskers and a pink nose |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent whisker=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Cat was laughing also, but tried to hide it by stroking his long whiskers.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whiskers:x8:1
# text = The Cat was laughing also, but tried to hide it by stroking his long whiskers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	laughing	laugh	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	hide	hide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	stroking	stroke	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
15	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	whiskers	whisker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** | past · progressive | the Cat |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **try** | past | the Cat *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **hide** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the Cat *not said here* | Cat |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 4 | **stroke** | gerund | the Cat *not said here* | his long whiskers |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent whisker=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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