---
title: pickaxe — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pickaxe» in the school dictionary: A pickaxe is a heavy tool with a long wooden handle and a curved metal head with a point on one or both ends, used for breaking hard ground, rock or ice. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pickaxe

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pickaxe, miner, rush diggers, Workers, you, climbers · **What happens:** be, curve, use, break, swing, carry · **To what, where:** heavy tool, hard ground, pickaxe, rock, pickaxes, road

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pickaxe is a heavy tool with a long wooden handle and a curved metal head with a point on one or both ends, used for breaking hard ground, rock or ice.

<!-- fold The tree, 32 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickaxe:m1:1
# text = A pickaxe is a heavy tool with a long wooden handle and a curved metal head with a point on one or both ends, used for breaking hard ground, rock or ice.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pickaxe	pickaxe	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	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	handle	handle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
14	curved	curve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	amod	_	_
15	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
17	with	with	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
20	on	on	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	19	nmod	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	24	det	_	_
24	ends	end	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
26	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	parataxis	_	_
27	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	28	mark	_	_
28	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	26	advcl	_	_
29	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	30	amod	_	_
30	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
32	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	appos	_	_
33	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	34	cc	_	_
34	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a pickaxe | a heavy tool |  |  |  | with a long wooden handle and a curved metal head; with a point on one or both ends | tree rules |
| 2 | **curve** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP.material V PP.product»: agent=Material |
| 3 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **break** | gerund |  | hard ground |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer ground=Patient |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The miner swung his pickaxe at the rock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickaxe:x1:1
# text = The miner swung his pickaxe at the rock.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	miner	miner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swung	swing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	pickaxe	pickaxe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rock	rock	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 | **swing** | past | the miner | miner's pickaxe |  | the rock |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V NP.theme PP»: agent=Agent pickaxe=Theme at rock=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gold rush diggers carried pickaxes and shovels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickaxe:x2:1
# text = Gold rush diggers carried pickaxes and shovels.
1	Gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	rush	rush	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	diggers	digger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	pickaxes	pickax	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	shovels	shovel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past | rush diggers | pickaxes and shovels |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pickax=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Workers broke up the road with a pickaxe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickaxe:x3:1
# text = Workers broke up the road with a pickaxe.
1	Workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pickaxe	pickaxe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break up** | past | Workers | the road |  |  |  | with a pickaxe | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent road=Patient with pickaxe=Instrument |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the game you need a pickaxe to dig for diamonds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickaxe:x4:1
# text = In the game you need a pickaxe to dig for diamonds.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pickaxe	pickaxe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	dig	dig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	diamonds	diamond	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | you | a pickaxe |  | the game |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot pickaxe=Theme |
| 2 | **dig** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for diamonds | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent for diamond=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pickaxe is too heavy for small children to use.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickaxe:x5:1
# text = A pickaxe is too heavy for small children to use.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pickaxe	pickaxe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a pickaxe |  |  |  |  | for small children; heavy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | to-infinitive | a pickaxe *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The climbers used an ice axe, a kind of small pickaxe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickaxe:x6:1
# text = The climbers used an ice axe, a kind of small pickaxe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	climbers	climber	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	axe	axe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	pickaxe	pickaxe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the climbers | a ice axe |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent axe=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Jack took a horn, a shovel, a pickaxe, his armor, and a dark lantern, and one winter’s evening he went to the mount.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickaxe:x7:1
# text = Jack took a horn, a shovel, a pickaxe, his armor, and a dark lantern, and one winter’s evening he went to the mount.
1	Jack	Jack	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	horn	horn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	shovel	shovel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	pickaxe	pickaxe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	armor	armor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	lantern	lantern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
21	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	22	nummod	_	_
22	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	’s	's	PART	POS	_	22	case	_	_
24	evening	evening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obl:unmarked	_	_
25	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	26	nsubj	_	_
26	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
27	to	to	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	mount	mount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | Jack | a horn and a shovel and a pickaxe and Jack's armor |  |  |  | a dark lantern *obl* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent horn=Theme |
| 2 | **go** | past | Jack |  |  | the mount | evening |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to mount=Initial\_Location |

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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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