---
title: plunger — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «plunger» in the school dictionary: A plunger is a tool with a rubber cup on a stick, used to clear a blocked sink or toilet by pushing and pulling. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# plunger

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** plunger, part, Dad, you, nurse · **What happens:** be, use, clear, block, push, pull · **To what, where:** tool, blocked sink, part, plunger, sink, water

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A plunger is a tool with a rubber cup on a stick, used to clear a blocked sink or toilet by pushing and pulling.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plunger:m1:1
# text = A plunger is a tool with a rubber cup on a stick, used to clear a blocked sink or toilet by pushing and pulling.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plunger	plunger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	rubber	rubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	cup	cup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	parataxis	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	clear	clear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	advcl	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	blocked	block	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	amod	_	_
19	sink	sink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	toilet	toilet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	_
22	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	23	mark	_	_
23	pushing	push	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	advcl	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	pulling	pull	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a plunger | a tool |  |  |  | with a rubber cup on a stick | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **clear** | to-infinitive |  | a blocked sink or toilet |  |  |  |  | vn clear-10.3-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent sink=Source |
| 4 | **block** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Causer |
| 5 | **push** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **pull** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn slide-11.2 «NP V»: agent=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A plunger is a part that slides in and out of a tube, like in a syringe, a cafetière (French press) or a pump.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plunger:m2:1
# text = A plunger is a part that slides in and out of a tube, like in a syringe, a cafetière (French press) or a pump.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plunger	plunger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	slides	slide	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	tube	tube	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	like	like	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	syringe	syringe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	cafetière	cafetière	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
22	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	French	French	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	press	press	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	24	punct	_	_
26	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
27	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	pump	pump	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a plunger | a part |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **slide** | present | a part |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad used a plunger to unblock the sink.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plunger:x1:1
# text = Dad used a plunger to unblock the sink.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	plunger	plunger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	unblock	unblock	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sink	sink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Dad | a plunger |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plunger=Patient |
| 2 | **unblock** | to-infinitive | Dad *not said here* | the sink |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Push the plunger slowly to squeeze out the water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plunger:x2:1
# text = Push the plunger slowly to squeeze out the water.
1	Push	push	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	plunger	plunger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	squeeze	squeeze	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **push** | imperative | you *not said here* | the plunger |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn carry-11.4-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plunger=Theme |
| 2 | **squeeze out** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the water |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nurse pressed the syringe plunger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plunger:x3:1
# text = The nurse pressed the syringe plunger.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nurse	nurse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pressed	press	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	syringe	syringe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	plunger	plunger	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 | **press** | past | the nurse | the syringe plunger |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plunger=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Press the plunger on the cafetière to make the coffee.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plunger:x4:1
# text = Press the plunger on the cafetière to make the coffee.
1	Press	press	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	plunger	plunger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cafetière	cafetière	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	coffee	coffee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	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 plunger |  | the cafetière |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plunger=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the coffee |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset coffee=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plunger made a loud sucking sound.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plunger:x5:1
# text = The plunger made a loud sucking sound.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plunger	plunger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	sucking	suck	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the plunger | a loud sucking sound |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |
| 2 | **suck** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pull back the plunger to fill the syringe with air.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plunger:x6:1
# text = Pull back the plunger to fill the syringe with air.
1	Pull	pull	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	back	back	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	plunger	plunger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	fill	fill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	syringe	syringe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull back** | imperative | you *not said here* | the plunger |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plunger=Theme |
| 2 | **fill** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the syringe |  |  |  | with air | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent syringe=Patient with air=Instrument |

<!-- 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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