---
title: ironclad — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ironclad» in the school dictionary: Ironclad means covered or protected with iron plates. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ironclad

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Ironclad, wooden cannonballs, USS Monitor, detective, butler, company · **What happens:** mean, cover, protect, be, not break, doubt · **To what, where:** century warship, Ironclad, ironclad ship, famous ironclad, ironclad alibi, ironclad guarantee · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ironclad means covered or protected with iron plates.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironclad:m1:1
# text = Ironclad means covered or protected with iron plates.
1	Ironclad	ironclad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	protected	protect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Ironclad |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **cover** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **protect** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | with iron plates | vn defend-72.3 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
An ironclad was a 19th-century warship covered with iron armour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironclad:m2:1
# text = An ironclad was a 19th-century warship covered with iron armour.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ironclad	ironclad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	19th	19th	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Combi|NumType=Ord	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	century	century	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	warship	warship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	armour	armour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | a ironclad | a century warship |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cover** | participle |  | a century warship *not said here* |  |  |  | with iron armour | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent with armour=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ironclad means so strong it cannot be broken or doubted: «an ironclad promise».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironclad:m3:1
# text = Ironclad means so strong it cannot be broken or doubted: «an ironclad promise».
1	Ironclad	ironclad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	parataxis	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	doubted	doubt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	ironclad	ironclad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Ironclad |  |  |  |  | strong *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **break** | can · passive |  | Ironclad |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **doubt** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ironclad ship could not be sunk by wooden cannonballs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironclad:x1:1
# text = The ironclad ship could not be sunk by wooden cannonballs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ironclad	ironclad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	sunk	sink	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	cannonballs	cannonball	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **sink** | could · passive | wooden cannonballs | the ironclad ship |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The USS Monitor was a famous ironclad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironclad:x2:1
# text = The USS Monitor was a famous ironclad.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	USS	USS	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Monitor	Monitor	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	ironclad	ironclad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the USS Monitor | a famous ironclad |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective found that the butler had an ironclad alibi.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironclad:x3:1
# text = The detective found that the butler had an ironclad alibi.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	ironclad	ironclad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	alibi	alibi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | the detective |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | past | the butler | a ironclad alibi |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent alibi=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The company gave an ironclad guarantee that the toy was safe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironclad:x4:1
# text = The company gave an ironclad guarantee that the toy was safe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	ironclad	ironclad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	guarantee	guarantee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the company | a ironclad guarantee |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent guarantee=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | the toy |  |  |  |  | safe *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ironclads replaced wooden warships in the 1800s.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironclad:x5:1
# text = Ironclads replaced wooden warships in the 1800s.
1	Ironclads	ironclad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	replaced	replace	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	warships	warship	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	1800s	1800	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan|NumForm=Combi|NumType=Card	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **replace** | past | Ironclads | wooden warships |  | the 1800s |  |  | vn substitute-13.6.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme warship=Co-Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her excuse was ironclad: she was at the dentist.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironclad:x6:1
# text = Her excuse was ironclad: she was at the dentist.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	ironclad	ironclad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	dentist	dentist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Her excuse | ironclad and the dentist |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | she |  |  | the dentist |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **excuse** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom excuse «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

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**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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