---
title: dishcloth — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dishcloth» in the school dictionary: A cloth used for washing or wiping dishes, cups and pans. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dishcloth

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** cloth, dishes, you, Mum, dishcloth, Dad · **What happens:** use, wipe, dry, call, wring out, wash up · **To what, where:** cloth, dishes, tea towel, dishcloth, table, washing machine · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«dishcloth» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [dishcloth in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dishcloth.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cloth used for washing or wiping dishes, cups and pans.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dishcloth:m1:1
# text = A cloth used for washing or wiping dishes, cups and pans.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	wiping	wipe	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
8	dishes	dish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	cups	cup	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	pans	pan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a cloth *not said here* |  |  |  | for washing | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **wipe** | gerund |  | dishes and cups and pans |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent dish=Theme |

<!-- .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: informal, UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sometimes also a cloth for drying dishes, usually called a tea towel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dishcloth:m2:1
# text = Sometimes also a cloth for drying dishes, usually called a tea towel.
1	Sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	4	advmod	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	drying	dry	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	dishes	dish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	towel	towel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dry** | gerund | a cloth *not said here* | dishes |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Patient dish=Result |
| 2 | **call** | participle | dishes *not said here* | a tea towel |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wring out the dishcloth after you wash up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dishcloth:x1:1
# text = Wring out the dishcloth after you wash up.
1	Wring	wring	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	out	out	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	dishcloth	dishcloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	wash	wash	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wring out** | imperative | you *not said here* | the dishcloth |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dishcloth=Patient |
| 2 | **wash up** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum wiped the table with a damp dishcloth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dishcloth:x2:1
# text = Mum wiped the table with a damp dishcloth.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wiped	wipe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	dishcloth	dishcloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wipe** | past | Mum | the table |  |  |  | with a damp dishcloth | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent table=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dishcloth smelled sour, so Dad put it in the washing machine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dishcloth:x3:1
# text = The dishcloth smelled sour, so Dad put it in the washing machine.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dishcloth	dishcloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	smelled	smell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sour	sour	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smell** | past | the dishcloth |  |  |  |  | sour *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **put** | past | Dad | dishcloth |  | the washing machine |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Theme in machine=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Granny hung the dishcloth over the tap to dry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dishcloth:x4:1
# text = Granny hung the dishcloth over the tap to dry.
1	Granny	Granny	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hung	hang	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	dishcloth	dishcloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	tap	tap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	dry	dry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hang** | past | Granny | the dishcloth |  | the tap |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent dishcloth=Theme over tap=Destination |
| 2 | **dry** | to-infinitive | Granny *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the busy kitchen the cook threw a dishcloth over her shoulder.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dishcloth:x5:1
# text = In the busy kitchen the cook threw a dishcloth over her shoulder.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cook	cook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	threw	throw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	dishcloth	dishcloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	over	over	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	shoulder	shoulder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | past | the cook | a dishcloth |  | the busy kitchen |  | over cook's shoulder | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent dishcloth=Theme in kitchen=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Germs grow fast in a wet dishcloth, so change it often.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dishcloth:x6:1
# text = Germs grow fast in a wet dishcloth, so change it often.
1	Germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	dishcloth	dishcloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | Germs |  |  | a wet dishcloth |  | fast *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in dishcloth=Location |
| 2 | **change** | infinitive | Germs *not said here* | dishcloth |  |  |  | often *property* | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I knitted a cotton dishcloth in craft club.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dishcloth:x7:1
# text = I knitted a cotton dishcloth in craft club.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	knitted	knit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	cotton	cotton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	dishcloth	dishcloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	craft	craft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knit** | past | I | a cotton dishcloth |  |  |  | in craft club | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent dishcloth=Patient in club=Topic |

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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.

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