---
title: pincer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pincer» in the school dictionary: One of the two claws of a crab, lobster or scorpion, used for gripping. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pincer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** two groups, crab, Earwigs, Dad, scorpion, army · **What happens:** use, curve, grip, pull out, come, nip · **To what, where:** two claws, things, nails, attack, finger, pincers

<!-- .vabout -->
«pincer» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [pincer in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pincer.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One of the two claws of a crab, lobster or scorpion, used for gripping.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincer:m1:1
# text = One of the two claws of a crab, lobster or scorpion, used for gripping.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	claws	claw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	crab	crab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	lobster	lobster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	scorpion	scorpion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	gripping	gripping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | the two claws of a crab and lobster or scorpion *not said here* |  |  |  | for gripping | vn eat-39.1 «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 -->
Pincers: a tool with two handles and two curved jaws for gripping things or pulling out nails.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincer:m2:1
# text = Pincers: a tool with two handles and two curved jaws for gripping things or pulling out nails.
1	Pincers	pincer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	handles	handle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
10	curved	curve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	amod	_	_
11	jaws	jaw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
12	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	gripping	grip	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
14	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	pulling	pull	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	conj	_	_
17	out	out	ADP	RP	_	16	compound:prt	_	_
18	nails	nail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curve** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP.material V PP.product»: agent=Material |
| 2 | **grip** | gerund |  | things |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Experiencer |
| 3 | **pull out** | gerund |  | nails |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pincer movement: an attack in which two groups come at an enemy from both sides.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincer:m3:1
# text = A pincer movement: an attack in which two groups come at an enemy from both sides.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	pincer	pincer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	obl	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	enemy	enemy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
15	from	from	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	17	det	_	_
17	sides	side	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present | two groups |  |  | a attack |  | at a enemy; from both sides | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from side=Initial\_Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crab nipped my finger with its pincer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincer:x1:1
# text = The crab nipped my finger with its pincer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crab	crab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	nipped	nip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	pincer	pincer	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 | **nip** | past | the crab | my finger |  |  |  | with crab's pincer | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location finger=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Earwigs have pincers at the end of their bodies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincer:x2:1
# text = Earwigs have pincers at the end of their bodies.
1	Earwigs	earwig	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	pincers	pincer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	bodies	body	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Earwigs | pincers |  |  | at the end of Earwigs's bodies |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pincer=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad pulled the nail out with a pair of pincers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincer:x3:1
# text = Dad pulled the nail out with a pair of pincers.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pulled	pull	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	nail	nail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pair	pair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	pincers	pincer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull out** | past | Dad | the nail |  |  |  | with a pair of pincers | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scorpion grabbed the beetle with its pincers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincer:x4:1
# text = The scorpion grabbed the beetle with its pincers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scorpion	scorpion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	grabbed	grab	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	beetle	beetle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	pincers	pincer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grab** | past | the scorpion | the beetle |  |  |  | with scorpion's pincers | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent beetle=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The army attacked in a pincer movement from the north and south.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincer:x5:1
# text = The army attacked in a pincer movement from the north and south.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	attacked	attack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	pincer	pincer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	north	north	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	south	south	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attack** | past | the army |  |  | a pincer movement from the north and south |  |  | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A lobster's pincers are very strong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincer:x6:1
# text = A lobster's pincers are very strong.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lobster	lobster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	pincers	pincer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a lobster's pincers |  |  |  |  | strong *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So the crab caught hold of his neck with his claws as securely as with a pair of blacksmith's pincers, and called out, "Off with you, now!"

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincer:x7:1
# text = So the crab caught hold of his neck with his claws as securely as with a pair of blacksmith's pincers, and called out, "Off with you, now!"
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	crab	crab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	hold	hold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	claws	claw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
12	as	as	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	securely	securely	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	pair	pair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	blacksmith	blacksmith	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	's	's	PART	POS	_	19	case	_	_
21	pincers	pincer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	parataxis	_	_
25	out	out	ADP	RP	_	24	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
27	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	Off	off	ADV	RB	_	24	parataxis	_	_
29	with	with	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
30	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	28	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
32	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	28	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | the crab | hold of crab's neck |  |  |  | with crab's claws; as a pair of blacksmith's pincers | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hold=Theme |
| 2 | **call out** *speech: assert* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **hold** |  |  | crab's neck |  |  |  |  | nom hold «act transitive»: of=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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