---
title: buttress — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «buttress» in the school dictionary: A buttress is a thick wall or support of stone or brick built against a wall to hold it up and stop it falling outwards. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# buttress

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** buttress, flying buttress, arch, buttress root, wide flat root, stone buttresses · **What happens:** be, build, hold up, stop, fall, support · **To what, where:** thick wall, brick, buttress, stone, arch, separate pillar

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A buttress is a thick wall or support of stone or brick built against a wall to hold it up and stop it falling outwards.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buttress:m1:1
# text = A buttress is a thick wall or support of stone or brick built against a wall to hold it up and stop it falling outwards.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	buttress	buttress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	brick	brick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl	_	_
14	against	against	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	_
20	up	up	ADP	RP	_	18	compound:prt	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	conj	_	_
23	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	obj	_	_
24	falling	fall	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	22	xcomp	_	_
25	outwards	outwards	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a buttress | a thick wall or support of stone or brick |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **build** | participle |  | brick *not said here* |  |  |  | against a wall | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 3 | **hold up** | to-infinitive |  | buttress |  |  |  |  | vn support-15.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot it=Theme |
| 4 | **stop** | infinitive |  | buttress |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **fall** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | outwards *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 6 | **support** |  |  | stone or brick |  |  |  |  | nom support «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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 -->
A flying buttress is an arch that reaches from a separate pillar to support a tall wall, as in Gothic cathedrals.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buttress:m2:1
# text = A flying buttress is an arch that reaches from a separate pillar to support a tall wall, as in Gothic cathedrals.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	flying	fly	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	buttress	buttress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	arch	arch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	reaches	reach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	separate	separate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	pillar	pillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	support	support	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
19	as	as	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	Gothic	gothic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	cathedrals	cathedral	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a flying buttress | a arch |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **reach** | present | a arch |  |  | a separate pillar |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **support** | to-infinitive | a arch *not said here* | a tall wall |  |  |  | as Gothic cathedrals | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer wall=Stimulus |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To buttress something is to support or strengthen it, often an argument or idea.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buttress:m3:1
# text = To buttress something is to support or strengthen it, often an argument or idea.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	buttress	buttress	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	support	support	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	strengthen	strengthen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	often	often	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buttress** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn support-15.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot something=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | support *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **strengthen** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A buttress root is a wide, flat root that holds up a tall rainforest tree.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buttress:m4:1
# text = A buttress root is a wide, flat root that holds up a tall rainforest tree.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	buttress	buttress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	root	root	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	root	root	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	up	up	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
14	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	rainforest	rainforest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a buttress root | a wide flat root |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hold up** | present | a wide flat root | a tall rainforest tree |  |  |  |  | vn support-15.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot tree=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old church wall is held up by stone buttresses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buttress:x1:1
# text = The old church wall is held up by stone buttresses.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	buttresses	buttress	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold up** | present · passive | stone buttresses | the old church wall |  |  |  |  | vn support-15.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot subject=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flying buttresses support the walls of Notre-Dame in Paris.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buttress:x2:1
# text = Flying buttresses support the walls of Notre-Dame in Paris.
1	Flying	fly	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	amod	_	_
2	buttresses	buttress	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	support	support	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Notre	Notre	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	Dame	Dame	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	Paris	Paris	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **support** | present | Flying buttresses | the walls of Notre and Dame in Paris |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer wall=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rainforest trees have huge buttress roots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buttress:x3:1
# text = Rainforest trees have huge buttress roots.
1	Rainforest	rainforest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	buttress	buttress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	roots	root	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Rainforest trees | huge buttress roots |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent root=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Buttresses let builders make tall walls with big windows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buttress:x4:1
# text = Buttresses let builders make tall walls with big windows.
1	Buttresses	buttress	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	let	let	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	builders	builder	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	windows	window	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | present | Buttresses | builders |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | infinitive | builders *not said here* | tall walls |  |  |  | with big windows | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset wall=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She buttressed her argument with lots of facts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buttress:x5:1
# text = She buttressed her argument with lots of facts.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	buttressed	buttress	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buttress** | past | She | her argument |  |  |  | with lots of facts | vn support-15.3-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent argument=Theme with lot=Instrument |
| 2 | **argue** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom argument «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle wall had a buttress at each corner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buttress:x6:1
# text = The castle wall had a buttress at each corner.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	buttress	buttress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	corner	corner	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 | **have** | past | the castle wall | a buttress |  | each corner |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent buttress=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We crawled between the buttress roots of a giant fig tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buttress:x7:1
# text = We crawled between the buttress roots of a giant fig tree.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	crawled	crawl	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	between	between	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	buttress	buttress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	roots	root	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	fig	fig	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crawl** | past | We |  |  | the buttress roots of a giant fig tree |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme between root=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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