---
title: piston — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «piston» in the school dictionary: A piston is a short solid cylinder that moves up and down or in and out inside a tube, pushed by pressure; it is a key part of engines and pumps. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# piston

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** piston, short solid cylinder, pistons, legs, bike pump, We · **What happens:** be, move up, push, describe, move, run · **To what, where:** short solid cylinder, tube, key part, something, engine, piston

<!-- .vabout -->
«piston» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [piston in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/piston.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A piston is a short solid cylinder that moves up and down or in and out inside a tube, pushed by pressure; it is a key part of engines and pumps.

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:piston:m1:1
# text = A piston is a short solid cylinder that moves up and down or in and out inside a tube, pushed by pressure; it is a key part of engines and pumps.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	piston	piston	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	solid	solid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cylinder	cylinder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	moves	move	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	up	up	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	down	down	ADV	RB	_	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	in	in	ADV	RB	_	10	conj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	out	out	ADV	RB	_	10	conj	_	_
17	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	tube	tube	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	pushed	push	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	acl	_	_
22	by	by	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	pressure	pressure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
25	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	29	nsubj	_	_
26	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	29	cop	_	_
27	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
28	key	key	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	29	amod	_	_
29	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	_
30	of	of	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
31	engines	engine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	29	nmod	_	_
32	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	33	cc	_	_
33	pumps	pump	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	31	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a piston | a short solid cylinder |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **move up** | present | a short solid cylinder |  |  | a tube |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme inside tube=Trajectory |
| 3 | **push** | participle |  | a tube *not said here* |  |  |  | by pressure | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent by pressure=Trajectory |
| 4 | **is a** | present | piston | a key part |  |  |  | of engines and pumps | 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: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Like pistons» describes something moving fast up and down, like legs running.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:piston:m2:1
# text = «Like pistons» describes something moving fast up and down, like legs running.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Like	like	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	pistons	piston	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
8	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	_
9	up	up	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	down	down	ADV	RB	_	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
15	running	run	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | pistons | something |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **move** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | like legs; fast *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **run** | gerund | legs *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The piston moves up and down inside the engine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:piston:x1:1
# text = The piston moves up and down inside the engine.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	piston	piston	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	moves	move	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	down	down	ADV	RB	_	4	conj	_	_
7	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move up** | present | the piston |  |  | the engine |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme inside engine=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bike pump has a piston inside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:piston:x2:1
# text = A bike pump has a piston inside.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	pump	pump	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	piston	piston	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a bike pump | a piston |  |  |  | inside *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent piston=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pistons turn the crankshaft in a car.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:piston:x3:1
# text = Pistons turn the crankshaft in a car.
1	Pistons	piston	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	turn	turn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	crankshaft	crankshaft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	car	car	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 | **turn** | present | Pistons | the crankshaft |  |  |  | in a car | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent crankshaft=Patient in car=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made a moving arm with syringes as pistons.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:piston:x4:1
# text = We made a moving arm with syringes as pistons.
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	5	det	_	_
4	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	syringes	syringe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	pistons	piston	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | a moving arm |  |  |  | with syringes; as pistons | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent arm=Product |
| 2 | **move** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Steam pushed the pistons of the old train.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:piston:x5:1
# text = Steam pushed the pistons of the old train.
1	Steam	steam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pushed	push	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	pistons	piston	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **push** | past | Steam | the pistons of the old train |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent piston=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His legs went like pistons as he raced to the finish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:piston:x6:1
# text = His legs went like pistons as he raced to the finish.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	pistons	piston	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	raced	race	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	finish	finish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | His legs |  |  |  |  | like pistons | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **race** | past | he |  |  | the finish |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to finish=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A syringe is a simple piston and cylinder.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:piston:x7:1
# text = A syringe is a simple piston and cylinder.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	syringe	syringe	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	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	piston	piston	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	cylinder	cylinder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a syringe | a simple piston and cylinder |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The huge limbs moved as steadily as pistons, eight feet to each stride, and the wrinkled skin of the elbow points rustled.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:piston:x8:1
# text = The huge limbs moved as steadily as pistons, eight feet to each stride, and the wrinkled skin of the elbow points rustled.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	limbs	limb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	moved	move	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	steadily	steadily	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	pistons	piston	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	14	det	_	_
14	stride	stride	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	wrinkled	wrinkle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	amod	_	_
19	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nsubj	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	elbow	elbow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	points	point	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nmod	_	_
24	rustled	rustle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | past | the huge limbs |  |  | each stride |  | as pistons and eight feet; steadily *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme to stride=Trajectory |
| 2 | **wrinkle** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **rustle** | past | the wrinkled skin of the elbow points |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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