---
title: elliptical — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «elliptical» in the school dictionary: Shaped like an ellipse, a stretched circle or oval, as in «an elliptical orbit». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# elliptical

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, listener, way, exercise machine, Earth, running track · **What happens:** shape, stretch, leave out, guess, come, say · **To what, where:** elliptical orbit, words, way, legs, oval path, Sun · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shaped like an ellipse, a stretched circle or oval, as in «an elliptical orbit».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elliptical:m1:1
# text = Shaped like an ellipse, a stretched circle or oval, as in «an elliptical orbit».
1	Shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	like	like	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	ellipse	ellipse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	stretched	stretch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	circle	circle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	oval	oval	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	elliptical	elliptical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	orbit	orbit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  | a elliptical orbit |  | like a ellipse | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **stretch** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leaving out words that the listener can guess, as in «Coming?» instead of «Are you coming?».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elliptical:m2:1
# text = Leaving out words that the listener can guess, as in «Coming?» instead of «Are you coming?».
1	Leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	21	advcl	_	_
2	out	out	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	obj	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	listener	listener	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	guess	guess	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	Coming	come	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
16	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	21	mark	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	fixed	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	Are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
20	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	coming	come	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	21	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave out** | gerund | you *not said here* | words |  |  |  |  | vn neglect-75.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Theme |
| 2 | **guess** | can | the listener | words |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Theme |
| 3 | **come** *in a quote* | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **come** *in a quote* | present · progressive | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Said in a way that is hard to understand because it is not direct.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elliptical:m3:1
# text = Said in a way that is hard to understand because it is not direct.
1	Said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	direct	direct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | participle |  |  |  | a way |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in way=Manner |
| 2 | **is** | present | a way |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **understand** | to-infinitive | a way *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **not** **is** | present | way |  |  |  |  | direct *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: US, noun — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An exercise machine where you move your legs in an oval path.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elliptical:m4:1
# text = An exercise machine where you move your legs in an oval path.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	exercise	exercise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	6	advmod	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	move	move	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	oval	oval	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | present | a exercise machine | your legs |  | a oval path |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent leg=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Earth travels around the Sun in an elliptical orbit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elliptical:x1:1
# text = Earth travels around the Sun in an elliptical orbit.
1	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	travels	travel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	around	around	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Sun	Sun	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	elliptical	elliptical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	orbit	orbit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **travel** | present | Earth |  |  | the Sun |  | in a elliptical orbit | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme around sun=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The running track is elliptical.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elliptical:x2:1
# text = The running track is elliptical.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	running	run	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	track	track	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	elliptical	elliptical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | the running track |  |  |  |  | elliptical *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We drew an elliptical shape using two pins and a loop of string.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elliptical:x3:1
# text = We drew an elliptical shape using two pins and a loop of string.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	elliptical	elliptical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	pins	pin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	loop	loop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	string	string	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | past | We | a elliptical shape |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shape=Theme |
| 2 | **use** | gerund | We *not said here* | two pins and a loop of string |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pin=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Ready?» is an elliptical way of saying «Are you ready?»

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elliptical:x4:1
# text = «Ready?» is an elliptical way of saying «Are you ready?»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ready	ready	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	elliptical	elliptical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	Are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Ready | a elliptical way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: ask* | gerund | a elliptical way *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | present | you |  |  |  |  | ready *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His answer was so elliptical that no one understood it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elliptical:x5:1
# text = His answer was so elliptical that no one understood it.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	elliptical	elliptical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	understood	understand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | His answer |  |  |  |  | elliptical *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **understand** | past | no one | answer |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |
| 3 | **answer** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum uses the elliptical at the gym.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elliptical:x6:1
# text = Mum uses the elliptical at the gym.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	elliptical	elliptical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	gym	gym	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Mum | the elliptical |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent elliptical=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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