---
title: gunpowder — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gunpowder» in the school dictionary: Gunpowder is a black powder that explodes when lit, made from saltpetre, charcoal and sulphur; it was used in old guns and cannons and is still used in fireworks. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gunpowder

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Gunpowder, black powder, Guy Fawkes, We, Fireworks, Pirates · **What happens:** be, explode, lit, make, use, invent · **To what, where:** black powder, saltpetre, Gunpowder, old guns, fireworks, ancient China

<!-- .vabout -->
«gunpowder» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 9 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: [gunpowder in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gunpowder.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gunpowder is a black powder that explodes when lit, made from saltpetre, charcoal and sulphur; it was used in old guns and cannons and is still used in fireworks.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunpowder:m1:1
# text = Gunpowder is a black powder that explodes when lit, made from saltpetre, charcoal and sulphur; it was used in old guns and cannons and is still used in fireworks.
1	Gunpowder	gunpowder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	powder	powder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	explodes	explode	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
9	lit	lit	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	_
12	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	saltpetre	saltpetre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	charcoal	charcoal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	sulphur	sulphur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj:pass	_	_
20	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	21	aux:pass	_	_
21	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	parataxis	_	_
22	in	in	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	guns	gun	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obl	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	cannons	cannon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	conj	_	_
27	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
28	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	30	aux:pass	_	_
29	still	still	ADV	RB	_	30	advmod	_	_
30	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	21	conj	_	_
31	in	in	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
32	fireworks	firework	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	30	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Gunpowder | a black powder |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **explode** | present | a black powder |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **lit** | participle | a black powder *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **make** | participle | a black powder *not said here* |  |  | saltpetre and charcoal and sulphur |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset from saltpetre=Material |
| 5 | **use** | past · passive |  | Gunpowder |  | old guns and cannons |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 6 | **use** | present · passive |  |  |  | fireworks | still |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V» |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gunpowder was invented in ancient China.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunpowder:x1:1
# text = Gunpowder was invented in ancient China.
1	Gunpowder	gunpowder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	invented	invent	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	China	China	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **invent** | past · passive |  | Gunpowder |  | ancient China |  |  | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Guy Fawkes hid barrels of gunpowder under Parliament.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunpowder:x2:1
# text = Guy Fawkes hid barrels of gunpowder under Parliament.
1	Guy	guy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Fawkes	fawke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	barrels	barrel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	gunpowder	gunpowder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Parliament	Parliament	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | past | Guy Fawkes | barrels of gunpowder |  | Parliament |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent barrel=Patient under parliament=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We remember the Gunpowder Plot on Bonfire Night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunpowder:x3:1
# text = We remember the Gunpowder Plot on Bonfire Night.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	remember	remember	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	Gunpowder	Gunpowder	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	Plot	Plot	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	Bonfire	Bonfire	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	Night	Night	PROPN	NNP	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 | **remember** | present | We | the Gunpowder Plot |  |  | on Bonfire Night |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent plot=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fireworks use a kind of gunpowder to shoot into the sky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunpowder:x4:1
# text = Fireworks use a kind of gunpowder to shoot into the sky.
1	Fireworks	firework	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	gunpowder	gunpowder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	shoot	shoot	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Fireworks | a kind of gunpowder |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kind=Patient |
| 2 | **shoot** | to-infinitive | Fireworks *not said here* |  |  | the sky |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent into sky=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pirates kept their gunpowder dry in the ship's hold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunpowder:x5:1
# text = Pirates kept their gunpowder dry in the ship's hold.
1	Pirates	pirate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	gunpowder	gunpowder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	hold	hold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | Pirates | Pirates's gunpowder |  | the ship's hold |  | dry *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent gunpowder=Theme in hold=Location |
| 2 | **hold** |  |  | the ship |  |  |  |  | nom hold «act transitive»: poss=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gunpowder is a mixture of saltpetre, charcoal and sulphur.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunpowder:x6:1
# text = Gunpowder is a mixture of saltpetre, charcoal and sulphur.
1	Gunpowder	gunpowder	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	mixture	mixture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	saltpetre	saltpetre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	charcoal	charcoal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	sulphur	sulphur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Gunpowder | a mixture and charcoal and sulphur |  |  |  | of saltpetre | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never play with fireworks or anything that contains gunpowder.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunpowder:x7:1
# text = Never play with fireworks or anything that contains gunpowder.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	play	play	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	fireworks	firework	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	contains	contain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	gunpowder	gunpowder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **play** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with fireworks | vn play-114.2-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with firework=Theme |
| 2 | **contain** | present |  | gunpowder |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot gunpowder=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cannon fired with a bang and a puff of gunpowder smoke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunpowder:x8:1
# text = The cannon fired with a bang and a puff of gunpowder smoke.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cannon	cannon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	fired	fire	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bang	bang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	puff	puff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	gunpowder	gunpowder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fire** | participle |  | the cannon *not said here* |  |  |  | with a bang and a puff of gunpowder smoke | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **puff** |  |  | gunpowder smoke |  |  |  |  | nom puff «phenomenon transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The air was cold, the battle was hot; there was mist in the air, but still more gunpowder-smoke.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunpowder:x9:1
# text = The air was cold, the battle was hot; there was mist in the air, but still more gunpowder-smoke.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	battle	battle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
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	parataxis	_	_
13	mist	mist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
18	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
19	still	still	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	23	amod	_	_
21	gunpowder	gunpowder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the air |  |  |  |  | cold *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | the battle |  |  |  |  | hot *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** | past | mist in the air |  |  | 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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