---
title: capstan — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «capstan» in the school dictionary: A large, upright, turning drum on a ship or dock, turned by sailors pushing bars, used to wind in heavy ropes or the anchor chain. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# capstan

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sailors, They, capstan, old ship, We · **What happens:** turn, push, use, raise, sing, walk · **To what, where:** drum, ship, bars, sailors, capstan, anchor

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A large, upright, turning drum on a ship or dock, turned by sailors pushing bars, used to wind in heavy ropes or the anchor chain.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capstan:m1:1
# text = A large, upright, turning drum on a ship or dock, turned by sailors pushing bars, used to wind in heavy ropes or the anchor chain.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	upright	upright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	turning	turn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	parataxis	_	_
7	drum	drum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	dock	dock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	turned	turn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
15	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
17	pushing	push	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	acl	_	_
18	bars	bar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	acl	_	_
21	to	to	PART	TO	_	22	mark	_	_
22	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	advcl	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	ropes	rope	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	nmod	_	_
26	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
28	anchor	anchor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	compound	_	_
29	chain	chain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | gerund |  | drum |  | a ship or dock |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent drum=Theme |
| 2 | **turn** | participle |  | a ship or dock *not said here* |  |  |  | by sailors | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme by sailor=Trajectory |
| 3 | **push** | gerund | sailors *not said here* | bars |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bar=Theme |
| 4 | **use** | participle |  | sailors *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 similar turning part on a machine, such as an old tape recorder.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capstan:m2:1
# text = A similar turning part on a machine, such as an old tape recorder.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	similar	similar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	turning	turn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
4	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	14	case	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
12	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
13	tape	tape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	recorder	recorder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sailors pushed the capstan to raise the anchor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capstan:x1:1
# text = The sailors pushed the capstan to raise the anchor.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pushed	push	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	capstan	capstan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	raise	raise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	anchor	anchor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **push** | past | the sailors | the capstan |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent capstan=Theme |
| 2 | **raise** | to-infinitive | the sailors *not said here* | the anchor |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anchor=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They sang a shanty as they walked round the capstan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capstan:x2:1
# text = They sang a shanty as they walked round the capstan.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	shanty	shanty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	round	round	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	capstan	capstan	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 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | They | a shanty |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location shanty=Theme |
| 2 | **walk** | past | they |  |  | the capstan |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme round capstan=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The heavy rope was wound around the capstan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capstan:x3:1
# text = The heavy rope was wound around the capstan.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	rope	rope	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	wound	woun	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	around	around	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	capstan	capstan	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 | **woun** | past · passive |  | the heavy rope |  | the capstan |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A capstan uses a lever to make pulling easier.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capstan:x4:1
# text = A capstan uses a lever to make pulling easier.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	capstan	capstan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	pulling	pull	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	obj	_	_
9	easier	easy	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | a capstan | a lever |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lever=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | a capstan *not said here* |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **pull** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn slide-11.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old ship had a wooden capstan on deck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capstan:x5:1
# text = The old ship had a wooden capstan on deck.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	ship	ship	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	7	det	_	_
6	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	capstan	capstan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	deck	deck	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 old ship | a wooden capstan |  | deck |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent capstan=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a capstan at the harbour museum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capstan:x6:1
# text = We saw a capstan at the harbour museum.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	capstan	capstan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	harbour	harbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a capstan |  | the harbour museum |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer capstan=Stimulus |

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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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