---
title: hourglass — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «hourglass» in the school dictionary: A glass timer with two bulbs joined by a narrow neck, where sand runs from the top to the bottom in a set time. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# hourglass

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sand, you, turn, hourglass, egg timer, wasp · **What happens:** join, run, turn over, start, draw, run out · **To what, where:** two bulbs, top, hourglass, little minute hourglass, hourglass shape

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A glass timer with two bulbs joined by a narrow neck, where sand runs from the top to the bottom in a set time.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hourglass:m1:1
# text = A glass timer with two bulbs joined by a narrow neck, where sand runs from the top to the bottom in a set time.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	timer	timer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	bulbs	bulb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
7	joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	15	advmod	_	_
14	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
16	from	from	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
19	to	to	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
22	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | participle |  | two bulbs *not said here* |  |  |  | by a narrow neck | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **run** | present | sand |  |  | the top to the bottom in a set time |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme from top=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 -->
A shape narrow in the middle and wide at top and bottom, as in «an hourglass figure».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hourglass:m2:1
# text = A shape narrow in the middle and wide at top and bottom, as in «an hourglass figure».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	middle	middle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
14	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	hourglass	hourglass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	figure	figure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Turn the hourglass over and start drawing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hourglass:x1:1
# text = Turn the hourglass over and start drawing.
1	Turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	hourglass	hourglass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	start	start	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
7	drawing	draw	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn over** | imperative | you *not said here* | the hourglass |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent hourglass=Theme |
| 2 | **start** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **draw** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When the sand runs out, your turn is over.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hourglass:x2:1
# text = When the sand runs out, your turn is over.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	turn	turn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	over	over	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wizard's hourglass was almost empty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hourglass:x3:1
# text = The wizard's hourglass was almost empty.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wizard	wizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	hourglass	hourglass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	empty	empty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the wizard's hourglass |  |  |  |  | almost, empty *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our egg timer is a little three-minute hourglass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hourglass:x4:1
# text = Our egg timer is a little three-minute hourglass.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	timer	timer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
7	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	minute	minute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	hourglass	hourglass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Our egg timer | a little minute hourglass |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wasp has an hourglass shape.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hourglass:x5:1
# text = A wasp has an hourglass shape.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wasp	wasp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	hourglass	hourglass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a wasp | a hourglass shape |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shape=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Time ran out like sand in an hourglass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hourglass:x6:1
# text = Time ran out like sand in an hourglass.
1	Time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hourglass	hourglass	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 | **run out** | past | Time |  |  | a hourglass |  | like sand | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in hourglass=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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