---
title: friction — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «friction» in the school dictionary: Friction is a force that slows things down or stops them when two surfaces rub or slide against each other. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# friction

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Friction, force, two surfaces, shoes, you, Ice · **What happens:** be, slow down, stop, rub, slide, mean · **To what, where:** force, things, each, disagreement, shoes, floor

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Friction is a force that slows things down or stops them when two surfaces rub or slide against each other.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:friction:m1:1
# text = Friction is a force that slows things down or stops them when two surfaces rub or slide against each other.
1	Friction	friction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	slows	slow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	down	down	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	15	mark	_	_
13	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
14	surfaces	surface	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
15	rub	rub	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	slide	slide	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	conj	_	_
18	against	against	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	each	each	DET	DT	ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp	17	obl	_	_
20	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Friction | a force |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **slow down** | present | a force | things |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |
| 3 | **stop** | present | a force *not said here* | things *= thing* |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality they=Eventuality |
| 4 | **rub** | present | two surfaces |  |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **slide** | present | two surfaces *not said here* |  |  | each |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme against each=Trajectory |

<!-- .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 -->
Friction can mean disagreement or arguing between people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:friction:m2:1
# text = Friction can mean disagreement or arguing between people.
1	Friction	friction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	disagreement	disagreement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	arguing	argue	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	_
7	between	between	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Friction | disagreement |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent disagreement=Topic |
| 2 | **argue** *speech: disagree* | gerund | Friction *not said here* |  |  |  |  | between people | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Friction stops your shoes slipping on the floor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:friction:x1:1
# text = Friction stops your shoes slipping on the floor.
1	Friction	friction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	slipping	slip	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | present | Friction | your shoes |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality shoe=Eventuality |
| 2 | **slip** | gerund | your shoes *not said here* |  |  | the floor |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rub your hands together; friction makes them warm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:friction:x2:1
# text = Rub your hands together; friction makes them warm.
1	Rub	rub	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	together	together	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	friction	friction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rub** | imperative | you *not said here* | your hands |  |  |  | together *property* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent hand=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | present | friction | hands *= hand* |  |  |  | warm *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset they=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ice has very little friction, so it's slippery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:friction:x3:1
# text = Ice has very little friction, so it's slippery.
1	Ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	friction	friction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Ice | little friction |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent friction=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | Ice |  |  |  |  | slippery *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Brakes use friction to slow a bike down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:friction:x4:1
# text = Brakes use friction to slow a bike down.
1	Brakes	brake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	friction	friction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	slow	slow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	down	down	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Brakes | friction |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent friction=Patient |
| 2 | **slow down** | to-infinitive | Brakes *not said here* | a bike |  |  |  | down *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent bike=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The toy car went further on the smooth floor because there was less friction.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:friction:x5:1
# text = The toy car went further on the smooth floor because there was less friction.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	further	far	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	smooth	smooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	12	expl	_	_
12	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
13	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	14	amod	_	_
14	friction	friction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the toy car |  |  | the smooth floor |  | far *property* | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme on floor=Location |
| 2 | **be** | past | less friction |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oil reduces friction in machines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:friction:x6:1
# text = Oil reduces friction in machines.
1	Oil	oil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	reduces	reduce	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	friction	friction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	machines	machine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reduce** | present | Oil | friction |  | machines |  |  | vn limit-76 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer friction=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was some friction between the two teams.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:friction:x7:1
# text = There was some friction between the two teams.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	friction	friction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	between	between	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	teams	team	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | some friction between the two teams |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->

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