---
title: chainsaw — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «chainsaw» in the school dictionary: A chainsaw is a powerful handheld saw with a motor that drives a loop of sharp teeth (a chain) round a metal bar, used to cut down trees and cut logs. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chainsaw/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/) / chainsaw

# chainsaw

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** chainsaw, powerful handheld, motor, tree surgeon, We, Chainsaws · **What happens:** be, see, drive, use, cut down, cut · **To what, where:** powerful handheld, loop, metal bar, trees, something, fallen branch

<!-- .vabout -->
«chainsaw» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [chainsaw in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/chainsaw.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A chainsaw is a powerful handheld saw with a motor that drives a loop of sharp teeth (a chain) round a metal bar, used to cut down trees and cut logs.

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chainsaw:m1:1
# text = A chainsaw is a powerful handheld saw with a motor that drives a loop of sharp teeth (a chain) round a metal bar, used to cut down trees and cut logs.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chainsaw	chainsaw	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	powerful	powerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	handheld	handheld	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	motor	motor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	drives	drive	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	loop	loop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	_
18	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	chain	chain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	20	punct	_	_
22	round	round	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	bar	bar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
27	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	_
28	to	to	PART	TO	_	29	mark	_	_
29	cut	cut	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	27	xcomp	_	_
30	down	down	ADP	RP	_	29	compound:prt	_	_
31	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	29	obj	_	_
32	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	34	cc	_	_
33	cut	cut	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	34	amod	_	_
34	logs	log	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	31	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a chainsaw | a powerful handheld |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | past | a powerful handheld |  |  |  |  | with a motor | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **drive** | present | a motor | a loop of sharp teeth |  | a metal bar |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent loop=Theme round bar=Trajectory |
| 4 | **use** | participle | a powerful handheld *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **cut down** | to-infinitive | a powerful handheld *not said here* | trees and cut logs |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset tree=Product |
| 6 | **cut** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
To chainsaw something is to cut it with a chainsaw.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chainsaw:m2:1
# text = To chainsaw something is to cut it with a chainsaw.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	chainsaw	chainsaw	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	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	chainsaw	chainsaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chainsaw** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with a chainsaw; cut *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tree surgeon cut the fallen branch with a chainsaw.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chainsaw:x1:1
# text = The tree surgeon cut the fallen branch with a chainsaw.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	surgeon	surgeon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	cut	cut	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	fallen	fall	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	branch	branch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	chainsaw	chainsaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** | past | the tree surgeon | the fallen branch |  |  |  | with a chainsaw | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent branch=Patient with chainsaw=Instrument |
| 2 | **fall** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We could hear a chainsaw buzzing in the woods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chainsaw:x2:1
# text = We could hear a chainsaw buzzing in the woods.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	chainsaw	chainsaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	buzzing	buzz	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	woods	wood	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | could | We | a chainsaw |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer chainsaw=Stimulus |
| 2 | **buzz** | gerund | a chainsaw *not said here* |  |  | the woods |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in wood=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chainsaws are very dangerous, so stay far away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chainsaw:x3:1
# text = Chainsaws are very dangerous, so stay far away.
1	Chainsaws	chainsaw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
8	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	_
9	away	away	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Chainsaws |  |  |  |  | dangerous *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **stay** | infinitive | Chainsaws *not said here* |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wore ear defenders because chainsaws are so loud.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chainsaw:x4:1
# text = He wore ear defenders because chainsaws are so loud.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wore	wear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	defenders	defender	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	chainsaws	chainsaw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | past | He | ear defenders |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent defender=Source |
| 2 | **is** | present | chainsaws |  |  |  |  | loud *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The artist used a chainsaw to carve a bear from a log.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chainsaw:x5:1
# text = The artist used a chainsaw to carve a bear from a log.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	artist	artist	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	chainsaw	chainsaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	carve	carve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bear	bear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	log	log	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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 artist | a chainsaw |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chainsaw=Patient |
| 2 | **carve** | to-infinitive | the artist *not said here* | a bear |  | a log |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset bear=Product from log=Material |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the storm, neighbours chainsawed the fallen tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chainsaw:x6:1
# text = After the storm, neighbours chainsawed the fallen tree.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	neighbours	neighbour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	chainsawed	chainsaw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	fallen	fall	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chainsaw** | past | neighbours | the fallen tree |  |  | after the storm |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fall** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad sharpens the chainsaw's chain before cutting firewood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chainsaw:x7:1
# text = Dad sharpens the chainsaw's chain before cutting firewood.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sharpens	sharpen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	chainsaw	chainsaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	chain	chain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	cutting	cut	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
9	firewood	firewood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sharpen** | present | Dad | the chainsaw's chain |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent chain=Patient |
| 2 | **cut** | gerund | Dad *not said here* | firewood |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset firewood=Product |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [chain](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/)
- next →: [chair](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chair/)
- ↑ back to [C in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/)