---
title: flint — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flint» in the school dictionary: A very hard grey or black stone that makes sparks when struck against steel, and breaks into sharp edges. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flint

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** hard grey, sparks, lighter, Age people, We, He · **What happens:** make, strike, break, use, light, find · **To what, where:** sparks, steel, sharp edges, piece, fire, spark

<!-- .vabout -->
«flint» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [flint in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/flint.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A very hard grey or black stone that makes sparks when struck against steel, and breaks into sharp edges.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flint:m1:1
# text = A very hard grey or black stone that makes sparks when struck against steel, and breaks into sharp edges.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	grey	grey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	sparks	spark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	12	mark	_	_
12	struck	strike	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	xcomp	_	_
13	against	against	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	steel	steel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	breaks	break	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
18	into	into	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	edges	edge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a hard grey or black stone | sparks |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **strike** | participle | sparks *not said here* |  |  | steel |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme against steel=Location |
| 3 | **break** | present | a hard grey or black stone *not said here* |  |  |  |  | into sharp edges *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Patient into edge=Result |

<!-- .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 piece of flint used to light a fire or, long ago, as a tool or arrowhead.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flint:m2:1
# text = A piece of flint used to light a fire or, long ago, as a tool or arrowhead.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	flint	flint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	light	light	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	13	advmod	_	_
13	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	arrowhead	arrowhead	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a piece of flint *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **light** | to-infinitive |  | a fire |  |  |  |  | vn preparing-26.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fire=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small piece of metal in a lighter that makes the spark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flint:m3:1
# text = A small piece of metal in a lighter that makes the spark.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	lighter	lighter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	spark	spark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a lighter | the spark |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset spark=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stone Age people made tools from flint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flint:x1:1
# text = Stone Age people made tools from flint.
1	Stone	Stone	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Age	Age	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	flint	flint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Age people | tools |  | flint |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent tool=Product from flint=Material |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We found a flint on the chalk beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flint:x2:1
# text = We found a flint on the chalk beach.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	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	flint	flint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	beach	beach	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 | **find** | past | We | a flint |  | the chalk beach |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flint=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He struck flint and steel to make a spark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flint:x3:1
# text = He struck flint and steel to make a spark.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	struck	strike	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	flint	flint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	steel	steel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	spark	spark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strike** | past | He | flint and steel |  |  |  |  | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flint=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | a spark |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset spark=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The arrowhead was made of sharp flint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flint:x4:1
# text = The arrowhead was made of sharp flint.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	arrowhead	arrowhead	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	flint	flint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · passive |  | the arrowhead |  |  |  | of sharp flint | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The museum showed a flint hand axe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flint:x5:1
# text = The museum showed a flint hand axe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	flint	flint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	axe	axe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She had a heart of flint and never forgave anyone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flint:x6:1
# text = She had a heart of flint and never forgave anyone.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	flint	flint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	forgave	forgive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | She | a heart of flint |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent heart=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **forgive** | past | She *not said here* | anyone |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anyone=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The badger heard the flint striking, and asked:

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flint:x7:1
# text = The badger heard the flint striking, and asked:
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	badger	badger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	flint	flint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	striking	strike	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | the badger | the flint |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer flint=Stimulus |
| 2 | **strike** | gerund | the flint *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the badger *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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