---
title: cog — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cog» in the school dictionary: A cog is one of the teeth around the edge of a wheel in a machine; a whole wheel with teeth is also called a cog or cogwheel (gear). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cog

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** cog, person, cogs, big cog, small cog, missing tooth · **What happens:** be, call, have, feel, cog, mean · **To what, where:** one, whole wheel, person, small part, big organisation, places · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«cog» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [cog in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cog.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cog is one of the teeth around the edge of a wheel in a machine; a whole wheel with teeth is also called a cog or cogwheel (gear).

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cog:m1:1
# text = A cog is one of the teeth around the edge of a wheel in a machine; a whole wheel with teeth is also called a cog or cogwheel (gear).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cog	cog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	around	around	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	wheel	wheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	25	punct	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	wheel	wheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nsubj:pass	_	_
21	with	with	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	nmod	_	_
23	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	aux:pass	_	_
24	also	also	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	_
25	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	parataxis	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	cog	cog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	xcomp	_	_
28	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	cogwheel	cogwheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	conj	_	_
30	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	gear	gear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cog | one |  |  |  | of the teeth around the edge of a wheel in a machine | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | present · passive |  | a whole wheel with teeth |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

<!-- .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: figurative — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«A cog in the machine» is a person who has a small part in a big organisation and feels unimportant.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cog:m2:1
# text = «A cog in the machine» is a person who has a small part in a big organisation and feels unimportant.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cog	cog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	organisation	organisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	feels	feel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
22	unimportant	unimportant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cog in the machine | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | a person | a small part |  | a big organisation |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent part=Patient |
| 3 | **feel** | present | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  | unimportant *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, slang — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In some places, «to cog» means to copy someone's homework.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cog:m3:1
# text = In some places, «to cog» means to copy someone's homework.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	cog	cog	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	copy	copy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cog** *in a quote* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  | some places |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **copy** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | someone's homework |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clock's cogs turned slowly behind the glass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cog:x1:1
# text = The clock's cogs turned slowly behind the glass.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	cogs	cog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	glass	glass	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 | **turn** | past | the clock's cogs |  |  | the glass |  | slowly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme behind glass=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When the big cog turns once, the small cog turns three times.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cog:x2:1
# text = When the big cog turns once, the small cog turns three times.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	5	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	cog	cog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
6	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	cog	cog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | the big cog |  |  |  |  | once *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **turn** | present | the small cog |  |  |  | time |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A missing tooth on the cog jammed the machine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cog:x3:1
# text = A missing tooth on the cog jammed the machine.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cog	cog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	jammed	jam	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jam** | past | a missing tooth on the cog | the machine |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP.theme V NP»: agent=Theme machine=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You could see the cogs turning in his head as he worked out the puzzle.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cog:x4:1
# text = You could see the cogs turning in his head as he worked out the puzzle.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cogs	cog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	turning	turn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
13	out	out	ADP	RP	_	12	compound:prt	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | could | You | the cogs |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer cog=Stimulus |
| 2 | **turn** | gerund | the cogs *not said here* |  |  | his head |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme in head=Trajectory |
| 3 | **work out** | past | he | the puzzle |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puzzle=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He felt like a tiny cog in a huge company.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cog:x5:1
# text = He felt like a tiny cog in a huge company.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cog	cog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | He |  |  | a huge company |  | like a tiny cog | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V S»: agent=Agent like cog=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We built a cog model from cardboard and pins.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cog:x6:1
# text = We built a cog model from cardboard and pins.
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	5	det	_	_
4	cog	cog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	model	model	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	cardboard	cardboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	pins	pin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	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 cog model |  | cardboard and pins |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent model=Product from cardboard=Material |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bike's chain runs over cogs at the back wheel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cog:x7:1
# text = The bike's chain runs over cogs at the back wheel.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	chain	chain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	cogs	cog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	wheel	wheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | present | the bike's chain |  |  | cogs |  | at the back wheel | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over cog=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 -->

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