---
title: notch — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «notch» in the school dictionary: A small V-shaped cut in an edge or surface. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# notch

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, He, prisoner, team, cake, tally stick · **What happens:** shape, cut, turn up, make, notch up, achieve · **To what, where:** edge, heat, notch, something, win, belt

<!-- .vabout -->
«notch» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [notch in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/notch.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small V-shaped cut in an edge or surface.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:notch:m1:1
# text = A small V-shaped cut in an edge or surface.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	V	v	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	cut	cut	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	surface	surface	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **cut** | participle |  |  |  | a edge or surface |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 level or step on a scale: turn the heat up a notch.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:notch:m2:1
# text = A level or step on a scale: turn the heat up a notch.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	level	level	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	scale	scale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	notch	notch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn up** | infinitive |  | the heat |  |  |  | a notch *obl:unmarked* | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location heat=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make a notch in something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:notch:m3:1
# text = To make a notch in something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	notch	notch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a notch |  | something |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset notch=Product |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
notch up: to achieve or score: notch up a win.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:notch:m4:1
# text = notch up: to achieve or score: notch up a win.
1	notch	notch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	achieve	achieve	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	score	score	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	notch	notch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	win	win	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **notch up** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **achieve** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn complete-55.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **score** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **notch up** | infinitive |  | a win |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent win=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He tightened his belt by one notch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:notch:x1:1
# text = He tightened his belt by one notch.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tightened	tighten	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	belt	belt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	notch	notch	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 | **tighten** | past | He | his belt |  |  |  | by one notch | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent belt=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Turn the music down a notch, please.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:notch:x2:1
# text = Turn the music down a notch, please.
1	Turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	notch	notch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
8	please	please	INTJ	UH	_	1	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | imperative | you *not said here* | the music |  | a notch |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent music=Theme down notch=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prisoner cut a notch in the wall for each day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:notch:x3:1
# text = The prisoner cut a notch in the wall for each day.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prisoner	prisoner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cut	cut	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	notch	notch	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	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** | past | the prisoner | a notch |  | the wall | day |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset notch=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team notched up another win.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:notch:x4:1
# text = Our team notched up another win.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	notched	notch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	win	win	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 | **notch up** | participle | Our team | another win |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent win=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cake was top-notch!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:notch:x5:1
# text = The cake was top-notch!
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	top	top	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	notch	notch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cut a small notch in the stick to hold the string.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:notch:x6:1
# text = Cut a small notch in the stick to hold the string.
1	Cut	cut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	notch	notch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	string	string	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** | imperative | you *not said here* | a small notch |  | the stick |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset notch=Product |
| 2 | **hold** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the string |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent string=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tally stick had twelve notches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:notch:x7:1
# text = The tally stick had twelve notches.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tally	tally	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	twelve	twelve	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	notches	notch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the tally stick | twelve notches |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent notch=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He took the bow, and fitting an arrow to the notch, took careful aim and let fly.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:notch:x8:1
# text = He took the bow, and fitting an arrow to the notch, took careful aim and let fly.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	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	bow	bow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	fitting	fit	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	arrow	arrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	notch	notch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
15	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	aim	aim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	_
19	fly	fly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | He | the bow |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bow=Theme |
| 2 | **fit** | gerund | He *not said here* | a arrow |  |  |  | to the notch *goal* | vn adjust-26.9 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent arrow=Patient to notch=Goal |
| 3 | **take** | past | He *not said here* | careful aim |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent aim=Theme |
| 4 | **let** | infinitive | He *not said here* | fly |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fly=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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