---
title: pinball — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pinball» in the school dictionary: An arcade game in which you shoot a metal ball up a sloping table and use flippers to keep it bouncing off targets to score points. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pinball

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, ball, We, I, Pinball machines, Gravity · **What happens:** shoot up, slope, use, keep, bounce off, score · **To what, where:** metal ball, arcade game, flippers, ball, targets, points

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An arcade game in which you shoot a metal ball up a sloping table and use flippers to keep it bouncing off targets to score points.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pinball:m1:1
# text = An arcade game in which you shoot a metal ball up a sloping table and use flippers to keep it bouncing off targets to score points.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	arcade	arcade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	obl	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	shoot	shoot	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
11	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	sloping	slope	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	amod	_	_
14	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
17	flippers	flipper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	advcl	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obj	_	_
21	bouncing	bounce	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	19	xcomp	_	_
22	off	off	ADP	RP	_	21	compound:prt	_	_
23	targets	target	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	_
24	to	to	PART	TO	_	25	mark	_	_
25	score	score	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	23	acl	_	_
26	points	point	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shoot up** | present | you | a metal ball |  | a arcade game |  | a sloping table *obl* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ball=Patient |
| 2 | **slope** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **use** | present | you *not said here* | flippers |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flipper=Patient |
| 4 | **keep** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | ball |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **bounce off** | gerund | ball *not said here* | targets |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent target=Agent |
| 6 | **score** | to-infinitive | ball *not said here* | points |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent point=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To bounce quickly from one place to another: «The ball pinballed around the box.».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pinball:m2:1
# text = To bounce quickly from one place to another: «The ball pinballed around the box.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	bounce	bounce	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
13	pinballed	pinball	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl	_	_
14	around	around	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bounce** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | one place to another |  | quickly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **pinball** *in a quote* | participle |  | the ball *not said here* |  | the box |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We played pinball at the arcade on the pier.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pinball:x1:1
# text = We played pinball at the arcade on the pier.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	pinball	pinball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	arcade	arcade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	pier	pier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | We | pinball |  | the arcade |  | on the pier | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pinball=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Press the buttons to move the flippers in pinball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pinball:x2:1
# text = Press the buttons to move the flippers in pinball.
1	Press	press	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	buttons	button	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	ccomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	flippers	flipper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	pinball	pinball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **press** | imperative | you *not said here* | the buttons |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent button=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **move** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the flippers |  | pinball |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent flipper=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I got a high score on the pinball machine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pinball:x3:1
# text = I got a high score on the pinball machine.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	pinball	pinball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | I | a high score |  | the pinball machine |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent score=Theme on machine=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ball went pinballing between the defenders.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pinball:x4:1
# text = The ball went pinballing between the defenders.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	pinballing	pinball	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	between	between	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	defenders	defender	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the ball |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **pinball** | gerund | the ball *not said here* |  |  |  |  | between the defenders | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pinball machines use springs, slopes and magnets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pinball:x5:1
# text = Pinball machines use springs, slopes and magnets.
1	Pinball	pinball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	machines	machine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	springs	spring	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	slopes	slope	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	magnets	magnet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Pinball machines |  |  |  | spring |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gravity pulls the pinball down the table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pinball:x6:1
# text = Gravity pulls the pinball down the table.
1	Gravity	gravity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pulls	pull	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	pinball	pinball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	down	down	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	table	table	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 | **pull** | present | Gravity | the pinball |  |  |  | down the table | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pinball=Theme |

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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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