---
title: pow — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pow» in the school dictionary: A word for the sound of a punch, a bang or a small explosion, used in comics and cartoons: «Pow! Biff! Bang!». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pow

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** soldier, word, lights, fist, you, great grandad · **What happens:** use, capture, hold, show, happen, go out · **To what, where:** word, comics, something, pow, comic, sound words · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A word for the sound of a punch, a bang or a small explosion, used in comics and cartoons: «Pow! Biff! Bang!».

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A word for the sound of a punch, a bang or a small explosion, used in comics and cartoons: «Pow!

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pow:m1:1
# text = A word for the sound of a punch, a bang or a small explosion, used in comics and cartoons: «Pow!
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	punch	punch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	bang	bang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	explosion	explosion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	comics	comic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obl	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	cartoons	cartoon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	24	punct	_	_
23	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	Pow	pow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a word for the sound of a punch and a bang or a small explosion and Pow *not said here* |  | comics and cartoons |  |  | 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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Biff!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pow:m1:2
# text = Biff!
1	Biff	biff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* Bang!».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pow:m1:3
# text = Bang!».
1	Bang	bang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: POW, abbreviation — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A prisoner of war: a soldier captured and held by the enemy during a war.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pow:m2:1
# text = A prisoner of war: a soldier captured and held by the enemy during a war.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prisoner	prisoner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	captured	capture	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	parataxis	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	enemy	enemy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	during	during	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **capture** | participle | a soldier |  |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **hold** | participle | a soldier *not said here* |  |  |  | during a war | by the enemy | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme by enemy=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A word to show something sudden and exciting happened: «And then, pow, the lights went out.».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pow:m3:1
# text = A word to show something sudden and exciting happened: «And then, pow, the lights went out.».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
9	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
13	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	19	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	pow	pow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj	_	_
19	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
20	out	out	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | to-infinitive | a word *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent something=Recipient |
| 2 | **happen** | past | a word |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **go out** *in a quote* | past | the lights | pow |  |  | then | out *property* | vn interact-36.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the comic, the hero's fist went «Pow!»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pow:x1:1
# text = In the comic, the hero's fist went «Pow!»
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	comic	comic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	fist	fist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	Pow	pow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the hero's fist | Pow |  | the comic |  |  | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in comic=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write some sound words like «pow», «crash» and «boom».

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pow:x2:1
# text = Write some sound words like «pow», «crash» and «boom».
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
3	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	pow	pow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	crash	crash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	boom	boom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | some sound words |  |  |  | like pow | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My great-grandad was a POW in the Second World War.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pow:x3:1
# text = My great-grandad was a POW in the Second World War.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	grandad	grandad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	POW	pow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	Second	Second	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	amod	_	_
11	World	World	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	War	War	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | My great grandad | a POW |  | the Second World War |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The POWs were sent home when the war ended.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pow:x4:1
# text = The POWs were sent home when the war ended.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	POWs	pow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	sent	send	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	home	home	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past · passive |  | the POWs |  |  |  | home *property* | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **end** | past | the war |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We were walking along and, pow, it started pouring with rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pow:x5:1
# text = We were walking along and, pow, it started pouring with rain.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	walking	walk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	along	along	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	pow	pow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	pouring	pour	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past · progressive | We |  |  |  |  | along *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **start** | past | pow |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **pour** | gerund | pow *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with rain | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with rain=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fireworks went pow, pow, pow over the river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pow:x6:1
# text = The fireworks went pow, pow, pow over the river.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fireworks	firework	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	pow	pow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	pow	pow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	pow	pow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	over	over	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the fireworks | pow and pow and pow |  | the river |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location pow=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Den he draw back en come down on de tree--pow!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pow:x7:1
# text = Den he draw back en come down on de tree--pow!
1	Den	den	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	draw	draw	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	back	back	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	en	en	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	down	down	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	de	de	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	10	compound	_	_
10	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	pow	pow	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 | **draw back** | present | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **come down** | present | en |  |  | de tree and pow |  | down *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on tree=Location |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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