---
title: pirouette — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pirouette» in the school dictionary: A pirouette is a fast spin on one foot, especially in ballet, often on the toes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pirouette

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pirouette, ballerina, Sophie, He, double pirouette, you · **What happens:** be, mean, spin round, do, practise, pirouette · **To what, where:** fast spin, one foot, perfect pirouette, pirouettes, hall, kitchen

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pirouette is a fast spin on one foot, especially in ballet, often on the toes.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pirouette:m1:1
# text = A pirouette is a fast spin on one foot, especially in ballet, often on the toes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pirouette	pirouette	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	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	spin	spin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	ballet	ballet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	often	often	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
16	on	on	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	toes	toe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a pirouette | a fast spin and the toes |  | one foot |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To pirouette is to spin round on one foot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pirouette:m2:1
# text = To pirouette is to spin round on one foot.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pirouette	pirouette	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	spin	spin	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	round	round	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | pirouette |  |  | one foot |  | round, spin *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To pirouette can also mean to spin round quickly and suddenly, not only on one foot.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pirouette:m3:1
# text = To pirouette can also mean to spin round quickly and suddenly, not only on one foot.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pirouette	pirouette	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	spin	spin	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	round	round	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
14	only	only	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	17	nummod	_	_
17	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | pirouette |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **spin round** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | pirouette *not said here* |  |  | one foot |  | quickly, round *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme on foot=Trajectory |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ballerina did a perfect pirouette.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pirouette:x1:1
# text = The ballerina did a perfect pirouette.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ballerina	ballerina	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	perfect	perfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	pirouette	pirouette	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 | **do** | past | the ballerina | a perfect pirouette |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pirouette=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sophie practised her pirouettes in the hall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pirouette:x2:1
# text = Sophie practised her pirouettes in the hall.
1	Sophie	Sophie	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	practised	practise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	pirouettes	pirouette	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hall	hall	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 | **practise** | past | Sophie | Sophie's pirouettes |  | the hall |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pirouette** |  | Sophie |  |  |  |  |  | nom pirouette «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He pirouetted across the kitchen with joy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pirouette:x3:1
# text = He pirouetted across the kitchen with joy.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pirouetted	pirouette	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	across	across	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	joy	joy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pirouette** | past | He |  |  | the kitchen with joy |  |  | vn waltz-51.5 «NP V PP.trajectory PP.goal»: agent=Theme across kitchen=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A double pirouette means spinning twice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pirouette:x4:1
# text = A double pirouette means spinning twice.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	double	double	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pirouette	pirouette	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a double pirouette |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **spin** *not said to happen* | gerund | a double pirouette *not said here* |  |  |  |  | twice *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep your eyes on one spot when you do a pirouette.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pirouette:x5:1
# text = Keep your eyes on one spot when you do a pirouette.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	spot	spot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	pirouette	pirouette	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 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* | your eyes |  | one spot |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent eye=Theme on spot=Location |
| 2 | **do** | present | you | a pirouette |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pirouette=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ice skater pirouetted on the rink.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pirouette:x6:1
# text = The ice skater pirouetted on the rink.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	skater	skater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	pirouetted	pirouette	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	rink	rink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pirouette** | participle |  | the ice skater *not said here* |  | the rink |  |  | vn waltz-51.5 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She struck the deer hard, it pirouetted and became Prince Almas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pirouette:x7:1
# text = She struck the deer hard, it pirouetted and became Prince Almas.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	struck	strike	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	deer	deer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	pirouetted	pirouette	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
11	Prince	Prince	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nmod:desc	_	_
12	Almas	Almas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strike** | past | She | the deer |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent deer=Patient |
| 2 | **pirouette** | past | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn waltz-51.5 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **become** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

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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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