---
title: mortar — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mortar» in the school dictionary: Mortar is a mixture of sand, cement or lime and water used to stick bricks or stones together. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mortar

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Mortar, you, short gun, mortarboard, builder, news · **What happens:** be, use, stick, crush, fire, wear · **To what, where:** mixture, cement, bricks, strong bowl, things, short gun

<!-- .vabout -->
«mortar» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [mortar in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mortar.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mortar is a mixture of sand, cement or lime and water used to stick bricks or stones together.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mortar:m1:1
# text = Mortar is a mixture of sand, cement or lime and water used to stick bricks or stones together.
1	Mortar	mortar	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	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	cement	cement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	lime	lime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
13	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	stick	stick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
16	bricks	brick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	_
19	together	together	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Mortar | a mixture and cement or lime and water |  |  |  | of sand | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | cement or lime and water *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **stick** | to-infinitive |  | bricks or stones |  |  |  | together *property* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent brick=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 mortar is a strong bowl in which you crush things with a pestle.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mortar:m2:1
# text = A mortar is a strong bowl in which you crush things with a pestle.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mortar	mortar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bowl	bowl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	obl	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	crush	crush	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	pestle	pestle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a mortar | a strong bowl |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **crush** | present | you | things |  | a strong bowl |  | with a pestle | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent thing=Patient with pestle=Instrument |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mortar is also a short gun that fires shells high into the air, used in war.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mortar:m3:1
# text = A mortar is also a short gun that fires shells high into the air, used in war.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mortar	mortar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	gun	gun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	fires	fire	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	shells	shell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
12	into	into	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a mortar | a short gun |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fire** | present | a short gun | shells |  | the air |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent shell=Theme into air=Destination |
| 3 | **use** | participle | a short gun *not said here* |  |  | war |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mortarboard is a flat square hat worn at graduations.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mortar:m4:1
# text = A mortarboard is a flat square hat worn at graduations.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mortarboard	mortarboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	square	square	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	worn	wear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	graduations	graduation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a mortarboard | a flat square hat |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **wear** | participle |  | a flat square hat *not said here* |  | graduations |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V PP-Conative»: agent=Agent at graduation=Source |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The builder spread mortar between the bricks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mortar:x1:1
# text = The builder spread mortar between the bricks.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	builder	builder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	mortar	mortar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	between	between	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bricks	brick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | past | the builder | mortar |  | the bricks |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent mortar=Theme between brick=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grind the spices with a mortar and pestle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mortar:x2:1
# text = Grind the spices with a mortar and pestle.
1	Grind	grind	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	spices	spice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	mortar	mortar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	pestle	pestle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grind** | imperative | you *not said here* | the spices |  |  |  | with a mortar and pestle | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent spice=Patient with mortar=Instrument |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mortar holds the old wall together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mortar:x3:1
# text = Mortar holds the old wall together.
1	Mortar	mortar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	together	together	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present | Mortar | the old wall |  |  |  | together *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wall=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The news reported mortar fire in the city.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mortar:x4:1
# text = The news reported mortar fire in the city.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	reported	report	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	mortar	mortar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	city	city	NOUN	NN	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 | **report** | past | the news | mortar fire |  | the city |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fire=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mortar dried hard overnight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mortar:x5:1
# text = The mortar dried hard overnight.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mortar	mortar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dried	dry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	overnight	overnight	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dry** | past | the mortar |  |  |  |  | hard, overnight *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Graduates threw their mortarboards in the air.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mortar:x6:1
# text = Graduates threw their mortarboards in the air.
1	Graduates	graduate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	threw	throw	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	mortarboards	mortarboard	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	air	air	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 | **throw** | past | Graduates | Graduates's mortarboards |  | the air |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent mortarboard=Theme in air=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Out of the trunk he made a mortar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mortar:x7:1
# text = Out of the trunk he made a mortar.
1	Out	out	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	trunk	trunk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mortar	mortar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | he | a mortar |  | the trunk |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mortar=Product |

<!-- 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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