---
title: pincushion — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pincushion» in the school dictionary: A pincushion is a small, firm, stuffed pad into which you stick pins and needles to keep them safe when sewing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pincushion

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pincushion, you, We, cactus, dressmaker, arm · **What happens:** stuff, be, stick, keep, sew, put back · **To what, where:** small stuffed pad, pins, pincushion, sewing club, table, wrist

<!-- .vabout -->
«pincushion» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 9 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: [pincushion in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pincushion.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pincushion is a small, firm, stuffed pad into which you stick pins and needles to keep them safe when sewing.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincushion:m1:1
# text = A pincushion is a small, firm, stuffed pad into which you stick pins and needles to keep them safe when sewing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pincushion	pincushion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	firm	firm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	stuffed	stuff	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	pad	pad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	into	into	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	obl	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	stick	stick	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	parataxis	_	_
15	pins	pin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	needles	needle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	advcl	_	_
20	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obj	_	_
21	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	xcomp	_	_
22	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	23	mark	_	_
23	sewing	sew	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	19	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stuff** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a pincushion | a small stuffed pad |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **stick** | present | you | pins and needles |  | a small stuffed pad |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent pin=Theme into which=Destination |
| 4 | **keep** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | pins *= pin* |  |  |  | safe *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |
| 5 | **sew** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=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 -->
Put the pins back in the pincushion when you finish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincushion:x1:1
# text = Put the pins back in the pincushion when you finish.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	pins	pin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	back	back	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pincushion	pincushion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	finish	finish	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put back** | imperative | you *not said here* | the pins |  | the pincushion |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent pin=Theme in pincushion=Destination |
| 2 | **finish** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma's pincushion looks like a red tomato.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincushion:x2:1
# text = Grandma's pincushion looks like a red tomato.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	pincushion	pincushion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	tomato	tomato	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | Grandma's pincushion |  |  |  |  | like a red tomato | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made a pincushion in sewing club.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincushion:x3:1
# text = We made a pincushion in sewing club.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	pincushion	pincushion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	sewing	sewing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never leave pins on the table; use the pincushion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincushion:x4:1
# text = Never leave pins on the table; use the pincushion.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	leave	leave	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	pins	pin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	pincushion	pincushion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **leave** | imperative | you *not said here* | pins |  | the table |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent pin=Theme on table=Location |
| 2 | **use** | infinitive | you *not said here* | the pincushion |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pincushion=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cactus looked like a green pincushion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincushion:x5:1
# text = The cactus looked like a green pincushion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cactus	cactus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pincushion	pincushion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the cactus |  |  |  |  | like a green pincushion | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dressmaker wore a pincushion on her wrist.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincushion:x6:1
# text = The dressmaker wore a pincushion on her wrist.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dressmaker	dressmaker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wore	wear	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	pincushion	pincushion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	wrist	wrist	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 | **wear** | past | the dressmaker | a pincushion |  | dressmaker's wrist |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent pincushion=Source |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After all those injections my arm felt like a pincushion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincushion:x7:1
# text = After all those injections my arm felt like a pincushion.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	4	det:predet	_	_
3	those	that	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	injections	injection	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	pincushion	pincushion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | my arm |  |  |  | after all injections | like a pincushion | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V S»: agent=Agent like pincushion=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Count the pins back into the pincushion so none are lost.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincushion:x8:1
# text = Count the pins back into the pincushion so none are lost.
1	Count	count	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	pins	pin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	back	back	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pincushion	pincushion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	none	none	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count back** | imperative | you *not said here* | the pins |  | the pincushion |  |  | vn multiply-108 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pin=Theme |
| 2 | **lose** | present · passive |  | none |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The back of him was made all in one piece, like a pincushion.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pincushion:x9:1
# text = The back of him was made all in one piece, like a pincushion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nmod	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	all	all	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	pincushion	pincushion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · passive |  | the back of him |  |  |  | like a pincushion | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP NP»: subject=Beneficiary piece=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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