---
title: catapult — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «catapult» in the school dictionary: A catapult is an old war machine that throws heavy stones or objects a long way. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# catapult

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** catapult, old war machine, army, We, He, crash · **What happens:** be, throw, shape, use, shoot, call · **To what, where:** old war machine, heavy stones, shaped stick, rubber band, small stones, catapult · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A catapult is an old war machine that throws heavy stones or objects a long way.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catapult:m1:1
# text = A catapult is an old war machine that throws heavy stones or objects a long way.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	catapult	catapult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	throws	throw	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	objects	object	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a catapult | a old war machine |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **throw** | present | a old war machine | heavy stones or objects |  |  |  | a long way *obl:unmarked* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stone=Theme |

<!-- .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: UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A catapult is a Y-shaped stick with a rubber band used to shoot small stones; in the USA it is called a slingshot.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catapult:m2:1
# text = A catapult is a Y-shaped stick with a rubber band used to shoot small stones; in the USA it is called a slingshot.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	catapult	catapult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	Y	y	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	rubber	rubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
13	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	shoot	shoot	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
16	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	24	obl	_	_
22	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj:pass	_	_
23	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	aux:pass	_	_
24	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	parataxis	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	slingshot	slingshot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a catapult | a shaped stick |  |  |  | with a rubber band | tree rules |
| 3 | **use** | participle |  | a rubber band *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **shoot** | to-infinitive |  | small stones |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stone=Theme |
| 5 | **call** | present · passive |  | catapult |  | the USA |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To catapult means to throw or launch something hard and fast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catapult:m3:1
# text = To catapult means to throw or launch something hard and fast.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	catapult	catapult	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	throw	throw	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	launch	launch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catapult** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **throw** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **launch** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To be catapulted into something means to be moved suddenly into a new situation, as in «catapulted to fame».

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catapult:m4:1
# text = To be catapulted into something means to be moved suddenly into a new situation, as in «catapulted to fame».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	catapulted	catapult	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	nsubj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obl	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	moved	move	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	ccomp	_	_
10	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	into	into	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
17	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	catapulted	catapult	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	advcl	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	fame	fame	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catapult** | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  |  |  | into something *result* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.result»: into something=Result |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **move** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  | a new situation |  | suddenly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: into situation=Trajectory |
| 4 | **catapult** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **fame** *in a quote* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The army used a catapult to throw stones at the castle walls.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catapult:x1:1
# text = The army used a catapult to throw stones at the castle walls.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	catapult	catapult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	throw	throw	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the army | a catapult |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent catapult=Patient |
| 2 | **throw** | to-infinitive | the army *not said here* | stones |  | the castle walls |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent stone=Theme at wall=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We built a lolly-stick catapult in science.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catapult:x2:1
# text = We built a lolly-stick catapult in science.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	lolly	lolly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	catapult	catapult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | We | a stick catapult |  | science |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent catapult=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He fired a pea from his catapult.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catapult:x3:1
# text = He fired a pea from his catapult.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	fired	fire	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	pea	pea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	catapult	catapult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fire** | past | He | a pea |  | his catapult |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent pea=Theme from catapult=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crash catapulted him out of his seat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catapult:x4:1
# text = The crash catapulted him out of his seat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crash	crash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	catapulted	catapult	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	of	of	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	seat	seat	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 | **catapult** | past | the crash | him *= he* |  | crash's seat |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent he=Theme out seat=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The song catapulted the band to fame.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catapult:x5:1
# text = The song catapulted the band to fame.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	catapulted	catapult	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	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	fame	fame	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catapult** | past | the song | the band |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent band=Theme |
| 2 | **fame** | to-infinitive | the song *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We measured how far the catapult could throw a marshmallow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catapult:x6:1
# text = We measured how far the catapult could throw a marshmallow.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	measured	measure	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
4	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	catapult	catapult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	throw	throw	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	marshmallow	marshmallow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **measure** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **throw** | could | the catapult | a marshmallow |  |  |  | far *property* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent marshmallow=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->

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