---
title: axe — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «axe» in the school dictionary: An axe is a tool with a heavy metal blade on a long handle, used for chopping wood or cutting down trees. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# axe

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** axe, workers, woodcutter, Vikings, Age people, money · **What happens:** be, use, cut down, axe, end, ax · **To what, where:** tool, trees, something, it, TV show, workers · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«axe» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [axe in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/axe.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An axe is a tool with a heavy metal blade on a long handle, used for chopping wood or cutting down trees.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:axe:m1:1
# text = An axe is a tool with a heavy metal blade on a long handle, used for chopping wood or cutting down trees.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	axe	axe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	blade	blade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	handle	handle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	chopping	chopping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	cutting	cut	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	19	conj	_	_
22	down	down	ADP	RP	_	21	compound:prt	_	_
23	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a axe | a tool |  |  |  | with a heavy metal blade on a long handle | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a tool *not said here* |  |  |  | for chopping wood | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **cut down** | gerund |  | trees |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset tree=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
To axe something is to cut it or end it suddenly: the TV show was axed.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:axe:m2:1
# text = To axe something is to cut it or end it suddenly: the TV show was axed.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	axe	axe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	cut	cut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	end	end	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	show	show	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj:pass	_	_
16	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux:pass	_	_
17	axed	ax	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **axe** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | cut *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **end** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  | suddenly *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality it=Eventuality |
| 4 | **ax** | past · passive |  | the TV show |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To axe workers means to sack them or make them lose their jobs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:axe:m3:1
# text = To axe workers means to sack them or make them lose their jobs.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	axe	axe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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	sack	sack	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	lose	lose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	jobs	job	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **axe** | to-infinitive |  | workers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **sack** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | workers *= worker* |  |  |  |  | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |
| 4 | **make** | infinitive |  | workers *= worker* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **lose** | infinitive | workers *= worker* *not said here* | workers's jobs |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality |
| 6 | **job** |  | workers *= worker* |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Have an axe to grind» means to have a private reason, often a grudge, for doing or saying something.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:axe:m4:1
# text = «Have an axe to grind» means to have a private reason, often a grudge, for doing or saying something.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	axe	axe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	grind	grind	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	private	private	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	grudge	grudge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
20	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	conj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	20	conj	_	_
23	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a axe |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent axe=Patient |
| 2 | **grind** *in a quote* | to-infinitive |  | a axe *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **have** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | a private reason and a grudge |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reason=Patient |
| 5 | **do** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent something=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The woodcutter chopped the log with his axe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:axe:x1:1
# text = The woodcutter chopped the log with his axe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	woodcutter	woodcutter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	chopped	chop	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	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	axe	axe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chop** | past | the woodcutter | the log |  |  |  | with woodcutter's axe | vn carve-21.2-2 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent log=Patient with axe=Instrument |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Vikings fought with axes and shields.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:axe:x2:1
# text = Vikings fought with axes and shields.
1	Vikings	Viking	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	fought	fight	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	axes	ax	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	shields	shield	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fight** | past | Vikings |  |  |  |  | with axes and shields | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with ax=Co-Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stone Age people made axes from flint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:axe:x3:1
# text = Stone Age people made axes from flint.
1	Stone	Stone	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Age	Age	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	axes	ax	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	flint	flint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Age people | axes |  | flint |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent ax=Product from flint=Material |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The swimming club was axed because there was no money.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:axe:x4:1
# text = The swimming club was axed because there was no money.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	axed	ax	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	8	expl	_	_
8	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	10	det	_	_
10	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ax** | past · passive |  | the swimming club |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** | past | no money |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our favourite show got the axe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:axe:x5:1
# text = Our favourite show got the axe.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	favourite	favourite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	show	show	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	axe	axe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | Our favourite show | the axe |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer axe=Stimulus |
| 2 | **show** |  | Our |  |  |  |  |  | nom show «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Two hundred jobs were axed at the factory.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:axe:x6:1
# text = Two hundred jobs were axed at the factory.
1	Two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	compound	_	_
2	hundred	hundred	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	jobs	job	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	axed	ax	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	factory	factory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ax** | past · passive |  | hundred jobs |  | the factory |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He criticised the plan because he had an axe to grind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:axe:x7:1
# text = He criticised the plan because he had an axe to grind.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	criticised	criticise	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	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	axe	axe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	grind	grind	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **criticise** | past | He | the plan |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | past | he | a axe |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent axe=Patient |
| 3 | **grind** | to-infinitive | he *not said here* | a axe *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |

<!-- 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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