---
title: clothesline — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clothesline» in the school dictionary: A rope or wire on which washed clothes are hung to dry. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clothesline

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** rope, arm, Mum, you, bird · **What happens:** wash, hang, dry, knock over, hit, be · **To what, where:** clothes, someone, them, neck, sheets, clothesline

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A rope or wire on which washed clothes are hung to dry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clothesline:m1:1
# text = A rope or wire on which washed clothes are hung to dry.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	wire	wire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	washed	wash	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	hung	hang	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	ccomp	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	dry	dry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | past | a rope or wire |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hang** | present · passive |  | clothes |  |  |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **dry** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To knock someone over by hitting them across the neck or chest with an outstretched arm; it is dangerous and against the rules.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clothesline:m2:1
# text = To knock someone over by hitting them across the neck or chest with an outstretched arm; it is dangerous and against the rules.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	knock	knock	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	hitting	hit	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	across	across	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	chest	chest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	outstretched	outstretched	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
19	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
20	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
22	against	against	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	20	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knock over** | to-infinitive | arm *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 2 | **hit** | gerund | arm *not said here* | them *= they* |  | the neck or chest |  | with a outstretched arm | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent they=Patient with arm=Instrument |
| 3 | **is** | present | arm |  |  |  |  | dangerous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum hung the sheets on the clothesline.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clothesline:x1:1
# text = Mum hung the sheets on the clothesline.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hung	hang	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	sheets	sheet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	clothesline	clothesline	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 | **hang** | past | Mum | the sheets |  | the clothesline |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent sheet=Theme on clothesline=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wet towels dried quickly on the clothesline in the wind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clothesline:x2:1
# text = The wet towels dried quickly on the clothesline in the wind.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	towels	towel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	dried	dry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	clothesline	clothesline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dry** | participle |  | the wet towels *not said here* |  | the clothesline in the wind |  | quickly *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use pegs to keep the clothes on the line.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clothesline:x3:1
# text = Use pegs to keep the clothes on the line.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	pegs	peg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	4	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | pegs |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent peg=Patient |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the clothes |  | the line |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent clothes=Theme on line=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bird sat on the clothesline.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clothesline:x4:1
# text = A bird sat on the clothesline.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	clothesline	clothesline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | a bird |  |  | the clothesline |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on clothesline=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rugby player was penalised for a clothesline tackle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clothesline:x5:1
# text = The rugby player was penalised for a clothesline tackle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	rugby	rugby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	player	player	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	penalised	penalis	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	clothesline	clothesline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	tackle	tackle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **penalis** | past · passive |  | the rugby player |  |  |  | for a clothesline tackle | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clothesline stretched across the garden.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clothesline:x6:1
# text = The clothesline stretched across the garden.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clothesline	clothesline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	stretched	stretch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	across	across	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stretch** | participle |  | the clothesline *not said here* |  | the garden |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across garden=Location |

<!-- 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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