---
title: lever — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «lever» in the school dictionary: A lever is a bar or handle that moves around a fixed point (the pivot or fulcrum) to help lift or move something heavy with less effort. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# lever

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** lever, bar, you, seesaw, Scissors, She · **What happens:** be, move, fix, help, lift, push · **To what, where:** bar, fixed point, something, handle, machine, it

<!-- .vabout -->
«lever» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [lever in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lever.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A lever is a bar or handle that moves around a fixed point (the pivot or fulcrum) to help lift or move something heavy with less effort.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lever:m1:1
# text = A lever is a bar or handle that moves around a fixed point (the pivot or fulcrum) to help lift or move something heavy with less effort.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bar	bar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	handle	handle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	moves	move	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	around	around	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	fixed	fix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	amod	_	_
13	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	pivot	pivot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	fulcrum	fulcrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	16	punct	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
22	lift	lift	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	xcomp	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	conj	_	_
25	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	24	obj	_	_
26	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
27	with	with	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	29	amod	_	_
29	effort	effort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a lever | a bar or handle |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **move** | present | a bar or handle |  |  | a fixed point |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme around point=Trajectory |
| 3 | **fix** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **help** | to-infinitive | a bar or handle *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 5 | **lift** | infinitive | a bar or handle *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **move** | infinitive | a bar or handle *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent something=Theme |

<!-- .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 lever is a handle you push or pull to work a machine: a gear lever.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lever:m2:1
# text = A lever is a handle you push or pull to work a machine: a gear lever.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	handle	handle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	push	push	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	pull	pull	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	gear	gear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a lever | a handle and a gear lever |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **push** | present | you | a handle and a gear lever *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent handle=Theme |
| 3 | **pull** | present | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn slide-11.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **work** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a machine |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent machine=Material |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To lever something is to move or open it using a lever: lever off a lid.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lever:m3:1
# text = To lever something is to move or open it using a lever: lever off a lid.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	lever	lever	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	open	open	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
14	lever	lever	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
15	off	off	ADP	RP	_	14	compound:prt	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	lid	lid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lever** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | move *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **open** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location it=Theme |
| 4 | **use** | gerund |  | a lever |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lever=Patient |
| 5 | **lever off** | infinitive |  | a lid |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A seesaw is a kind of lever.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lever:x1:1
# text = A seesaw is a kind of lever.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	seesaw	seesaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a seesaw | a kind |  |  |  | of lever | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use a spoon as a lever to open the paint tin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lever:x2:1
# text = Use a spoon as a lever to open the paint tin.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	spoon	spoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	open	open	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	tin	tin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a spoon |  |  |  | as a lever | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent spoon=Duration as lever=Attribute |
| 2 | **open** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the paint tin |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location tin=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pull the lever to start the machine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lever:x3:1
# text = Pull the lever to start the machine.
1	Pull	pull	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull** | imperative | you *not said here* | the lever |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lever=Theme |
| 2 | **start** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the machine |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent machine=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scissors are two levers joined together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lever:x4:1
# text = Scissors are two levers joined together.
1	Scissors	scissors	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	levers	lever	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	together	together	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Scissors | two levers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **join** | participle |  | two levers *not said here* |  |  |  | together *property* | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The longer the lever, the easier it is to lift the load.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lever:x5:1
# text = The longer the lever, the easier it is to lift the load.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	easier	easy	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	lift	lift	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	load	load	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | lever |  |  |  |  | lift *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She levered the lid off the box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lever:x6:1
# text = She levered the lid off the box.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	levered	lever	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lid	lid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	off	off	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lever** | past | She | the lid |  |  |  | off the box | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pivot is the point a lever turns around.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lever:x7:1
# text = The pivot is the point a lever turns around.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pivot	pivot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	around	around	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the pivot | the point |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **turn around** | present | a lever | the point *not said here* |  |  |  | around *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent point=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The driver moved the gear lever.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lever:x8:1
# text = The driver moved the gear lever.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	driver	driver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	moved	move	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	gear	gear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	lever	lever	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 | **move** | past | the driver | the gear lever |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent lever=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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