---
title: mechanism — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mechanism» in the school dictionary: A mechanism is a set of moving parts in a machine that work together, such as the mechanism of a clock or a lock. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mechanism

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** mechanism, moving parts, something, We, Shivering, spines · **What happens:** be, move, work together, happen, do, keep · **To what, where:** set, way, pop card, mechanism, lock mechanism, defence mechanism

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mechanism is a set of moving parts in a machine that work together, such as the mechanism of a clock or a lock.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mechanism:m1:1
# text = A mechanism is a set of moving parts in a machine that work together, such as the mechanism of a clock or a lock.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mechanism	mechanism	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	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	amod	_	_
8	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	work	work	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
14	together	together	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	19	case	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	fixed	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	mechanism	mechanism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	lock	lock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a mechanism | a set and the mechanism of a clock or a lock |  |  |  | of moving parts in a machine | tree rules |
| 2 | **move** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **work together** | present | moving parts in a machine |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: 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 -->
A mechanism is a way or system by which something happens or is done, as in the body's mechanism for keeping warm.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mechanism:m2:1
# text = A mechanism is a way or system by which something happens or is done, as in the body's mechanism for keeping warm.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mechanism	mechanism	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	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	obl	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nsubj	_	_
11	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
16	as	as	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	's	's	PART	POS	_	19	case	_	_
21	mechanism	mechanism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
22	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	23	mark	_	_
23	keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	21	acl	_	_
24	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a mechanism | a way or system |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **happen** | present | something |  |  |  |  | by a way or system | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme by which=Location |
| 3 | **do** | present · passive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | as the body's mechanism | vn act-114-1 «NP V» |
| 4 | **keep** | gerund | the body's mechanism *not said here* |  |  |  |  | warm *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clock's mechanism is full of tiny gears.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mechanism:x1:1
# text = The clock's mechanism is full of tiny gears.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	mechanism	mechanism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	gears	gear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the clock's mechanism |  |  |  |  | of tiny gears; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made a pop-up card with a lever mechanism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mechanism:x2:1
# text = We made a pop-up card with a lever mechanism.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	pop	pop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
7	card	card	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	mechanism	mechanism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | a pop card |  |  |  | with a lever mechanism | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent card=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shivering is the body's mechanism for warming up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mechanism:x3:1
# text = Shivering is the body's mechanism for warming up.
1	Shivering	shivering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	mechanism	mechanism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	warming	warm	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Shivering | the body's mechanism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **warm up** | gerund | the body's mechanism *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lock mechanism was jammed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mechanism:x4:1
# text = The lock mechanism was jammed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	lock	lock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	mechanism	mechanism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	jammed	jam	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jam** | past · passive |  | the lock mechanism |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP.theme V NP»: subject=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A hedgehog's spines are a defence mechanism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mechanism:x5:1
# text = A hedgehog's spines are a defence mechanism.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hedgehog	hedgehog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	spines	spine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	defence	defence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	mechanism	mechanism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a hedgehog's spines | a defence mechanism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The toy car has a wind-up mechanism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mechanism:x6:1
# text = The toy car has a wind-up mechanism.
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	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	mechanism	mechanism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- 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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