---
title: autopilot — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «autopilot» in the school dictionary: A computer system in an aircraft, ship or car that steers and controls it automatically, without a person doing it by hand. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# autopilot

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** car, person, autopilot, I, cars, He · **What happens:** steer, control, do, think, switch, fly · **To what, where:** car, something, pilot, autopilot, plane, long flights

<!-- .vabout -->
«autopilot» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [autopilot in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/autopilot.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A computer system in an aircraft, ship or car that steers and controls it automatically, without a person doing it by hand.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autopilot:m1:1
# text = A computer system in an aircraft, ship or car that steers and controls it automatically, without a person doing it by hand.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	aircraft	aircraft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	steers	steer	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	controls	control	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	automatically	automatically	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	without	without	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	parataxis	_	_
21	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	20	acl	_	_
22	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	obj	_	_
23	by	by	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steer** | present | car |  |  |  |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **control** | present | car *not said here* | car |  |  |  | automatically *property* | vn enforce-63 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 3 | **do** | gerund | a person *not said here* | car |  |  |  | by hand | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In "on autopilot": doing something without thinking about it, out of habit.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autopilot:m2:1
# text = In "on autopilot": doing something without thinking about it, out of habit.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	autopilot	autopilot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	csubj	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	thinking	think	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
11	about	about	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	out	out	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	habit	habit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | about autopilot | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about it=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pilot switched on the autopilot over the ocean.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autopilot:x1:1
# text = The pilot switched on the autopilot over the ocean.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pilot	pilot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	switched	switch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	autopilot	autopilot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	over	over	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	ocean	ocean	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **switch** | participle |  | the pilot *not said here* |  | the autopilot over the ocean |  |  | vn convert-26.6.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On long flights, the autopilot flies the plane for hours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autopilot:x2:1
# text = On long flights, the autopilot flies the plane for hours.
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	flights	flight	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	autopilot	autopilot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	flies	fly	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | present | the autopilot | the plane |  | long flights | hour |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V NP.theme PP»: agent=Agent plane=Theme on flight=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I was on autopilot and put the milk in the cupboard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autopilot:x3:1
# text = I was on autopilot and put the milk in the cupboard.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	autopilot	autopilot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	cupboard	cupboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | I |  |  | autopilot |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **put** | infinitive | I *not said here* | the milk |  | the cupboard |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent milk=Theme in cupboard=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some cars can steer themselves a little with autopilot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autopilot:x4:1
# text = Some cars can steer themselves a little with autopilot.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	steer	steer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	4	obj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	autopilot	autopilot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steer** | can | some cars | cars *= car* |  |  |  | with autopilot; a little *obl:unmarked* | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent themselves=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He walked home on autopilot, thinking about the game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autopilot:x5:1
# text = He walked home on autopilot, thinking about the game.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	home	home	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	autopilot	autopilot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	thinking	think	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past | He |  |  | autopilot |  | home *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on autopilot=Trajectory |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about the game | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about game=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pilots must still watch carefully even on autopilot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autopilot:x6:1
# text = Pilots must still watch carefully even on autopilot.
1	Pilots	pilot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	still	still	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	watch	watch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	even	even	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	autopilot	autopilot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | must | Pilots |  |  | autopilot | still | carefully *property* | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on autopilot=Location |

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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.

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