---
title: astrolabe — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «astrolabe» in the school dictionary: An old instrument made of brass discs and a pointer, used to measure how high the Sun or a star is above the horizon. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# astrolabe

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** old instrument, sailors, museum, astronomer, class, astrolabe · **What happens:** make, use, measure, be, work out, have · **To what, where:** old instrument, Sun, horizon, Earth, shiny brass astrolabe, glass case

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An old instrument made of brass discs and a pointer, used to measure how high the Sun or a star is above the horizon.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astrolabe:m1:1
# text = An old instrument made of brass discs and a pointer, used to measure how high the Sun or a star is above the horizon.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	instrument	instrument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	brass	brass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	discs	disc	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	pointer	pointer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl:relcl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	measure	measure	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	16	advmod	_	_
16	high	high	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	18	advmod	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	Sun	Sun	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	star	star	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	_
22	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	cop	_	_
23	above	above	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	horizon	horizon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	25	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | a old instrument *not said here* |  |  |  | of brass discs and a pointer | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a old instrument *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **measure** | to-infinitive |  | the Sun or a star |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **is** | present | a old instrument |  |  | the horizon |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
With it, sailors and astronomers could work out the time and where they were on Earth.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astrolabe:m2:1
# text = With it, sailors and astronomers could work out the time and where they were on Earth.
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	astronomers	astronomer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	out	out	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl:unmarked	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
13	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	17	advmod	_	_
14	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
15	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
16	on	on	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work out** | could | sailors with it and astronomers |  |  |  | time |  | vn discover-84 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | sailors *= sailor* |  |  | Earth |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The museum had a shiny brass astrolabe in a glass case.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astrolabe:x1:1
# text = The museum had a shiny brass astrolabe in a glass case.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	shiny	shiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	brass	brass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	astrolabe	astrolabe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the museum | a shiny brass astrolabe |  | a glass case |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent astrolabe=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sailors once used an astrolabe to find how far north they were.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astrolabe:x2:1
# text = Sailors once used an astrolabe to find how far north they were.
1	Sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	3	advmod	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	astrolabe	astrolabe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
9	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	10	advmod	_	_
10	north	north	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Sailors | a astrolabe |  |  |  | once *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent astrolabe=Patient |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | Sailors *not said here* |  |  |  |  | north *property* | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **be** | past | Sailors *= sailor* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The astronomer held up the astrolabe to the night sky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astrolabe:x3:1
# text = The astronomer held up the astrolabe to the night sky.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	astronomer	astronomer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	astrolabe	astrolabe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold up** | participle | the astronomer *not said here* | the astrolabe |  |  |  | to the night sky | vn support-15.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot astrolabe=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class made a paper astrolabe in science.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astrolabe:x4:1
# text = Our class made a paper astrolabe in science.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	astrolabe	astrolabe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Our class | a paper astrolabe |  | science |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset astrolabe=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An astrolabe measures the height of a star above the horizon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astrolabe:x5:1
# text = An astrolabe measures the height of a star above the horizon.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	astrolabe	astrolabe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	measures	measure	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	height	height	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	star	star	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	above	above	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	horizon	horizon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **measure** | present | a astrolabe | the height of a star above the horizon |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme height=Value |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scholars in Baghdad improved the astrolabe long ago.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astrolabe:x6:1
# text = Scholars in Baghdad improved the astrolabe long ago.
1	Scholars	scholar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	Baghdad	Baghdad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	improved	improve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	astrolabe	astrolabe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	_
8	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **improve** | past | Scholars in Baghdad | the astrolabe |  |  |  | ago *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent astrolabe=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She turned the ring of the astrolabe to line it up with the Sun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astrolabe:x7:1
# text = She turned the ring of the astrolabe to line it up with the Sun.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	ring	ring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	astrolabe	astrolabe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	line	line	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	Sun.	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | She | the ring of the astrolabe |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent ring=Theme |
| 2 | **line up** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | ring |  |  | sunday |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme it=Destination |

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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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