---
title: precession — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «precession» in the school dictionary: The slow turning of the axis of a spinning object, such as a spinning top or the Earth, so that the axis traces a circle. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# precession

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** slow turning, axis, spinning top, top, Polaris, Precession · **What happens:** spin, trace, turn, take, show, wobble · **To what, where:** circle, precession, North Star, axis, stars, pole

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The slow turning of the axis of a spinning object, such as a spinning top or the Earth, so that the axis traces a circle.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precession:m1:1
# text = The slow turning of the axis of a spinning object, such as a spinning top or the Earth, so that the axis traces a circle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	turning	turning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	axis	axis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	amod	_	_
10	object	object	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	16	case	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	amod	_	_
16	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
21	so	so	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	_
22	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	axis	axis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nsubj	_	_
25	traces	trace	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	circle	circle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	25	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spin** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **spin** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **trace** | present | the slow turning of the axis of a spinning object | a circle |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent circle=Theme |
| 4 | **turn** |  | the axis of a spinning object |  |  |  |  |  | nom turning «act intransitive»: of=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The slow change in the direction of Earth's axis, taking about 26,000 years for one circle.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precession:m2:1
# text = The slow change in the direction of Earth's axis, taking about 26,000 years for one circle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	direction	direction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	axis	axis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
13	about	about	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	26,000	26,000	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
15	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	18	nummod	_	_
18	circle	circle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | gerund |  |  |  |  | year | for one circle | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for circle=Beneficiary |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spinning top shows precession when it wobbles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precession:x1:1
# text = A spinning top shows precession when it wobbles.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	precession	precession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	wobbles	wobble	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spin** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **show** | present | a spinning top | precession |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent precession=Recipient |
| 3 | **wobble** | present | top |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because of precession, Polaris will not always be the North Star.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precession:x2:1
# text = Because of precession, Polaris will not always be the North Star.
1	Because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	3	case	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	precession	precession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Polaris	Polaris	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
6	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
8	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	12	advmod	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	cop	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	North	North	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	Star	Star	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | future | Polaris | the North Star |  |  |  | because precession; always *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Precession of the Earth's axis takes about 26,000 years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precession:x3:1
# text = Precession of the Earth's axis takes about 26,000 years.
1	Precession	precession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	axis	axis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
7	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	about	about	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	26,000	26,000	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | Precession of the Earth's axis |  |  |  | year |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **precede** |  |  | the Earth's axis |  |  |  |  | nom precession «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gyroscope's precession was slow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precession:x4:1
# text = The gyroscope's precession was slow.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gyroscope	gyroscope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	precession	precession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the gyroscope's precession |  |  |  |  | slow *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **precede** |  | the gyroscope |  |  |  |  |  | nom precession «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists measure precession with telescopes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precession:x5:1
# text = Scientists measure precession with telescopes.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	measure	measure	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	precession	precession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	telescopes	telescope	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **measure** | present | Scientists | precession |  |  |  | with telescopes | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme precession=Value |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Precession changes which stars we see at the pole.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precession:x6:1
# text = Precession changes which stars we see at the pole.
1	Precession	precession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	4	det	_	_
4	stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	see	see	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	pole	pole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | present | Precession | which stars |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent star=Patient |
| 2 | **see** | present | we | which stars *not said here* |  | the pole |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer star=Stimulus |

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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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