---
title: dial — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dial» in the school dictionary: A dial is the round face of a clock, watch or measuring instrument, with numbers and a pointer. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dial

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** dial, you, pointer, She, kitchen scales, watch · **What happens:** be, watch, measure, turn, change, dial · **To what, where:** round face, instrument, round control, something, number, numbers

<!-- .vabout -->
«dial» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [dial in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dial.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dial is the round face of a clock, watch or measuring instrument, with numbers and a pointer.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dial:m1:1
# text = A dial is the round face of a clock, watch or measuring instrument, with numbers and a pointer.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dial	dial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	round	round	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	watch	watch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	measuring	measure	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	_
14	instrument	instrument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	pointer	pointer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a dial | the round face |  |  |  | of a clock | tree rules |
| 2 | **watch** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **measure** | gerund |  | instrument |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
A dial is a round control that you turn to change something, like the volume or the oven temperature.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dial:m2:1
# text = A dial is a round control that you turn to change something, like the volume or the oven temperature.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dial	dial	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	round	round	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	obj	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	turn	turn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	volume	volume	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	oven	oven	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	temperature	temperature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a dial | a round control |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **turn** | present | you | a round control |  |  |  | like the volume or the oven temperature | tree rules |
| 3 | **change** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To dial a number is to press or turn the numbers to make a phone call.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dial:m3:1
# text = To dial a number is to press or turn the numbers to make a phone call.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	dial	dial	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	press	press	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	call	call	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dial** | to-infinitive |  | a number |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | press *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **turn** | infinitive |  | the numbers |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent number=Theme |
| 4 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a phone call |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset call=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Turn the dial to make the radio louder.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dial:x1:1
# text = Turn the dial to make the radio louder.
1	Turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	dial	dial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	radio	radio	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	louder	loud	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | imperative | you *not said here* | the dial |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent dial=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the radio |  |  |  | loud *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset radio=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pointer on the dial showed 40 degrees.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dial:x2:1
# text = The pointer on the dial showed 40 degrees.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pointer	pointer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dial	dial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	40	40	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	degrees	degree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the pointer on the dial | 40 degrees |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent degree=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In an emergency, dial 999.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dial:x3:1
# text = In an emergency, dial 999.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	emergency	emergency	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	dial	dial	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	999	999	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dial** | imperative | you *not said here* | 999 |  | a emergency |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She dialled her grandma's number.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dial:x4:1
# text = She dialled her grandma's number.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dialled	diall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **diall** | past | She | her grandma's number |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kitchen scales have a dial instead of a screen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dial:x5:1
# text = The kitchen scales have a dial instead of a screen.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	scales	scale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dial	dial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	screen	screen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the kitchen scales | a dial |  |  |  | instead a screen | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dial=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The watch has a blue dial.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dial:x6:1
# text = The watch has a blue dial.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	watch	watch	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	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	dial	dial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the watch | a blue dial |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dial=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Read the dial carefully before you write down the reading.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dial:x7:1
# text = Read the dial carefully before you write down the reading.
1	Read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	dial	dial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	write	write	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
8	down	down	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | imperative | you *not said here* | the dial |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dial=Topic |
| 2 | **write down** | present | you | the reading |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reading=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But go to my brother who grows round the old sun-dial, and perhaps he will give you what you want.”

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dial:x8:1
# text = But go to my brother who grows round the old sun-dial, and perhaps he will give you what you want.”
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	2	cc	_	_
2	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	round	round	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
10	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
11	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	dial	dial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
16	perhaps	perhaps	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
17	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
18	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
19	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
20	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	19	iobj	_	_
21	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	23	obj	_	_
22	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj	_	_
23	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to my brother | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to brother=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **grow** | present | my brother |  |  |  |  | round the old sun dial | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **give** | future | he |  | you |  |  | perhaps *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **want** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot what=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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