---
title: crankshaft — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «crankshaft» in the school dictionary: A crankshaft is a long metal rod in an engine that turns the up-and-down movement of the pistons into turning (spinning) movement that drives the wheels. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# crankshaft

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** crankshaft, engine, movement, pistons, broken crankshaft, pedals · **What happens:** be, turn, spin, drive, move, push · **To what, where:** long metal rod, engine, up down movement, movement, wheels, pistons · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A crankshaft is a long metal rod in an engine that turns the up-and-down movement of the pistons into turning (spinning) movement that drives the wheels.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crankshaft:m1:1
# text = A crankshaft is a long metal rod in an engine that turns the up-and-down movement of the pistons into turning (spinning) movement that drives the wheels.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crankshaft	crankshaft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	rod	rod	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
14	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	down	down	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	pistons	piston	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nmod	_	_
23	into	into	SCONJ	IN	_	24	mark	_	_
24	turning	turn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	advcl	_	_
25	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	26	punct	_	_
28	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obj	_	_
29	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	30	nsubj	_	_
30	drives	drive	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	28	acl:relcl	_	_
31	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
32	wheels	wheel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	30	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a crankshaft | a long metal rod |  | a engine |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **turn** | present | a engine | the up down movement of the pistons |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent movement=Theme |
| 3 | **turn** | gerund | a engine *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **spin** | gerund | a engine *not said here* | movement |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent movement=Theme |
| 5 | **drive** | present | movement | the wheels |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme wheel=Trajectory |
| 6 | **move** |  |  | the pistons |  |  |  |  | nom movement «act transitive»: of=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pistons push the crankshaft round.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crankshaft:x1:1
# text = The pistons push the crankshaft round.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pistons	piston	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	push	push	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	crankshaft	crankshaft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	round	round	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **push** | present | the pistons | the crankshaft |  |  |  | round *property* | vn carry-11.4-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crankshaft=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A broken crankshaft means the engine cannot work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crankshaft:x2:1
# text = A broken crankshaft means the engine cannot work.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	crankshaft	crankshaft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present | a broken crankshaft |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **not** **work** | can | the engine |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bicycle's pedals turn a crank, a little like a crankshaft.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crankshaft:x3:1
# text = A bicycle's pedals turn a crank, a little like a crankshaft.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bicycle	bicycle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	pedals	pedal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	turn	turn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	crank	crank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	appos	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	crankshaft	crankshaft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | a bicycle's pedals | a crank |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent crank=Theme |
| 2 | **pedal** |  | a bicycle |  |  |  |  |  | nom pedal «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mechanic showed us the crankshaft inside the old engine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crankshaft:x4:1
# text = The mechanic showed us the crankshaft inside the old engine.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mechanic	mechanic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	crankshaft	crankshaft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the mechanic | the crankshaft | us | the old engine |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient crankshaft=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In D&T we built a model with a crankshaft that made a toy bird flap.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crankshaft:x5:1
# text = In D&T we built a model with a crankshaft that made a toy bird flap.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	D	D	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	&	&	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	T	t	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	model	model	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	crankshaft	crankshaft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
15	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	flap	flap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | we | a model |  | D & T |  | with a crankshaft | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent model=Theme with crankshaft=Source |
| 2 | **make** | past | a crankshaft | a bird flap |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset flap=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Steam engines used a crankshaft to turn their wheels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crankshaft:x6:1
# text = Steam engines used a crankshaft to turn their wheels.
1	Steam	steam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	engines	engine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	crankshaft	crankshaft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	wheels	wheel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Steam engines | a crankshaft |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crankshaft=Patient |
| 2 | **turn** | to-infinitive | Steam engines *not said here* | engines's wheels |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent wheel=Theme |

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**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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