---
title: colossus — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «colossus» in the school dictionary: A huge statue, much bigger than life size. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# colossus

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** thing, Colossus, earthquake, Colossus computer, goalkeeper, giant statue · **What happens:** be, build, help, break, stand over, topple · **To what, where:** German codes, Bletchley Park, Colossus, secret codes, war, defence · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A huge statue, much bigger than life size.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colossus:m1:1
# text = A huge statue, much bigger than life size.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	statue	statue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	much	much	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person, company or thing that is enormously big, powerful or important («a colossus of science»).

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colossus:m2:1
# text = A person, company or thing that is enormously big, powerful or important («a colossus of science»).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	enormously	enormously	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	powerful	powerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
15	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	colossus	colossus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | thing |  |  |  |  | big, enormously *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: a name — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Colossus of Rhodes: a giant bronze statue of the sun god Helios in ancient Greece, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colossus:m3:1
# text = The Colossus of Rhodes: a giant bronze statue of the sun god Helios in ancient Greece, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Colossus	Colossus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Rhodes	Rhode	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	bronze	bronze	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	statue	statue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	god	god	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
14	Helios	Helios	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	Greece	Greece	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	conj	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	Seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	23	nummod	_	_
23	Wonders	Wonder	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	19	nmod	_	_
24	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	Ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	World	World	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: a name — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Colossus: one of the first electronic computers, built in Britain during the Second World War to help break German codes at Bletchley Park.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colossus:m4:1
# text = Colossus: one of the first electronic computers, built in Britain during the Second World War to help break German codes at Bletchley Park.
1	Colossus	colossus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
3	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	1	appos	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	_
7	electronic	electronic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	computers	computer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	parataxis	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	Britain	Britain	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
13	during	during	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
15	Second	Second	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	17	amod	_	_
16	World	World	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	War	War	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
20	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	xcomp	_	_
21	German	German	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	codes	code	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	_
23	at	at	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	Bletchley	Bletchley	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	Park	Park	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | participle |  |  |  |  | during the Second World War | in Britain | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.patient V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient in britain=Attribute |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **break** | infinitive |  | German codes |  | Bletchley Park |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer code=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Colossus of Rhodes stood over thirty metres tall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colossus:x1:1
# text = The Colossus of Rhodes stood over thirty metres tall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Colossus	Colossus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Rhodes	Rhodes	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	over	over	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	thirty	thirty	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	metres	metre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand over** | past | the Colossus of Rhodes |  |  |  |  | tall *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An earthquake toppled the Colossus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colossus:x2:1
# text = An earthquake toppled the Colossus.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	earthquake	earthquake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	toppled	topple	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	Colossus	Colossus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **topple** | past | a earthquake | the Colossus |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent colossus=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Colossus computer helped break secret codes in the war.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colossus:x3:1
# text = The Colossus computer helped break secret codes in the war.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Colossus	Colossus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
6	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	codes	code	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | the Colossus computer |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **break** | infinitive | the Colossus computer *not said here* | secret codes |  | the war |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer code=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The goalkeeper was a colossus in defence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colossus:x4:1
# text = The goalkeeper was a colossus in defence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goalkeeper	goalkeeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	colossus	colossus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	defence	defence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the goalkeeper | a colossus |  | defence |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The giant statue was a true colossus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colossus:x5:1
# text = The giant statue was a true colossus.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	statue	statue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	colossus	colossus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the giant statue | a true colossus |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some people call that company a colossus of technology.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colossus:x6:1
# text = Some people call that company a colossus of technology.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	colossus	colossus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	technology	technology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | some people | that company |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent company=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The famous Colossus of Rhodes, which was one of the seven wonders of the world, was erected in honour of Helios.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colossus:x7:1
# text = The famous Colossus of Rhodes, which was one of the seven wonders of the world, was erected in honour of Helios.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Colossus	Colossus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Rhodes	Rhodes	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	wonders	wonder	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
18	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux:pass	_	_
19	erected	erect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	honour	honour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	Helios	helio	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	19	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the famous Colossus of Rhodes | one |  |  |  | of the seven wonders of the world | tree rules |
| 2 | **erect** | past · passive |  | the famous Colossus of Rhodes |  | honour of Helios |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Product |
| 3 | **wonder** |  |  | the world |  |  |  |  | nom wonder «feeling transitive»: of=patient |
| 4 | **honour** |  |  | Helios |  |  |  |  | nom honour «state transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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