---
title: counterweight — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «counterweight» in the school dictionary: A counterweight is a heavy weight used to balance another weight, so that something heavy is easier to lift or does not tip over. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# counterweight

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** counterweight, something, one idea, crane, lift, motor · **What happens:** be, use, balance, lift, not tip over, have · **To what, where:** heavy weight, weight, anything, something, another, huge counterweight

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A counterweight is a heavy weight used to balance another weight, so that something heavy is easier to lift or does not tip over.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterweight:m1:1
# text = A counterweight is a heavy weight used to balance another weight, so that something heavy is easier to lift or does not tip over.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	counterweight	counterweight	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	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	weight	weight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	balance	balance	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	11	det	_	_
11	weight	weight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
13	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	18	mark	_	_
14	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	13	fixed	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	18	nsubj	_	_
16	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
18	easier	easy	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	parataxis	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	lift	lift	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	xcomp	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
22	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	aux	_	_
23	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	24	advmod	_	_
24	tip	tip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	conj	_	_
25	over	over	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a counterweight | a heavy weight |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a heavy weight *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **balance** | to-infinitive |  | another weight |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location weight=Theme |
| 4 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **lift** | to-infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **not** **tip over** | present · do-support | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Figuratively, a counterweight is anything that balances something else, such as one idea balancing another.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterweight:m2:1
# text = Figuratively, a counterweight is anything that balances something else, such as one idea balancing another.
1	Figuratively	figuratively	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	counterweight	counterweight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	balances	balance	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	else	else	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	15	case	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
15	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	_
16	balancing	balance	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	15	acl	_	_
17	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a counterweight | anything |  |  |  | figuratively *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **balance** | present |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location something=Theme |
| 3 | **balance** | gerund | one idea *not said here* | another |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location another=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crane has a huge counterweight to stop it tipping.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterweight:x1:1
# text = The crane has a huge counterweight to stop it tipping.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crane	crane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	counterweight	counterweight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	tipping	tip	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the crane | a huge counterweight |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent counterweight=Patient |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive | the crane *not said here* | counterweight |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **tip** | gerund | the crane *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A lift uses a counterweight so the motor does less work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterweight:x2:1
# text = A lift uses a counterweight so the motor does less work.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lift	lift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	counterweight	counterweight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	motor	motor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	amod	_	_
11	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | a lift | a counterweight |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent counterweight=Patient |
| 2 | **do** | present | the motor | less work |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trebuchet's counterweight dropped and the arm flung the stone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterweight:x3:1
# text = The trebuchet's counterweight dropped and the arm flung the stone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trebuchet	trebuchet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	counterweight	counterweight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	dropped	drop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	flung	fling	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** | past | the trebuchet's counterweight |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **fling** | past | the arm | the stone |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stone=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On a seesaw, a heavier child can be a counterweight to two smaller ones.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterweight:x4:1
# text = On a seesaw, a heavier child can be a counterweight to two smaller ones.
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	seesaw	seesaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	heavier	heavy	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	amod	_	_
7	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	counterweight	counterweight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
14	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	15	amod	_	_
15	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a heavier child | a counterweight | two smaller ones | a seesaw |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We used a bag of marbles as a counterweight in our lever experiment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterweight:x5:1
# text = We used a bag of marbles as a counterweight in our lever experiment.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	marbles	marble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	counterweight	counterweight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
12	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | We | a bag of marbles |  |  |  | as a counterweight in our lever experiment | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent bag=Duration as counterweight=Attribute |
| 2 | **experiment** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom experiment «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad's calm voice was a counterweight to all the shouting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterweight:x6:1
# text = Grandad's calm voice was a counterweight to all the shouting.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	counterweight	counterweight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	11	det:predet	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	shouting	shouting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Grandad's calm voice | a counterweight |  |  |  | to all shouting | tree rules |

<!-- 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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