---
title: press — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «press» in the school dictionary: To press is to push firmly on something: press a button. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# press

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** them, press, machine, people, you, We · **What happens:** press, be, make, do, push, squeeze · **To what, where:** something, button, clothes, someone, them, machine

<!-- .vabout -->
«press» in the school dictionary: its 5 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [press in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/press.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To press is to push firmly on something: press a button.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:press:m1:1
# text = To press is to push firmly on something: press a button.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	press	press	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
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	push	push	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
10	press	press	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	button	button	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **press** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | something |  | firmly, push *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **press** | infinitive |  | a button |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent button=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 -->
To press clothes is to iron them flat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:press:m2:1
# text = To press clothes is to iron them flat.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	press	press	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	iron	iron	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **press** | to-infinitive |  | clothes |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clothes=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | flat, iron *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To press someone is to try hard to make them do something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:press:m3:1
# text = To press someone is to try hard to make them do something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	press	press	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **press** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP ADJP-Result»: agent=Agent someone=Result |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hard, try *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **do** *not said to happen* | infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A press is a machine that pushes or squeezes things, or that prints.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:press:m4:1
# text = A press is a machine that pushes or squeezes things, or that prints.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	press	press	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	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	pushes	push	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	squeezes	squeeze	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	14	det	_	_
14	prints	print	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a press | a machine |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **push** | present | a machine |  |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **squeeze** | present | a machine *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The press means newspapers, TV news and the people who write them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:press:m5:1
# text = The press means newspapers, TV news and the people who write them.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	press	press	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	newspapers	newspaper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
11	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	write	write	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the press | newspapers and TV news and the people |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent newspaper=Topic |
| 2 | **write** | present | the people | newspapers *= newspaper* |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Press the green button to start.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:press:x1:1
# text = Press the green button to start.
1	Press	press	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	button	button	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	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 green button |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent button=Theme |
| 2 | **start** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Press firmly on the cut with a clean cloth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:press:x2:1
# text = Press firmly on the cut with a clean cloth.
1	Press	press	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cut	cut	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	clean	clean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We pressed flowers in a heavy book.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:press:x3:1
# text = We pressed flowers in a heavy book.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pressed	press	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	book	book	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 | **press** | past | We | flowers |  | a heavy book |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flower=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't press too hard with your pencil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:press:x4:1
# text = Don't press too hard with your pencil.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	press	press	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **press** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with your pencil; hard *property* | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad pressed his shirt for the wedding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:press:x5:1
# text = Dad pressed his shirt for the wedding.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pressed	press	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	shirt	shirt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	wedding	wedding	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 | **press** | past | Dad | Dad's shirt |  |  |  | for the wedding | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shirt=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The news was in the press.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:press:x6:1
# text = The news was in the press.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	press	press	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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 news |  |  | the press |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We were pressed for time, so we ran.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:press:x7:1
# text = We were pressed for time, so we ran.
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:pass	_	_
3	pressed	press	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **press** | past · passive |  | We |  |  | time |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP ADJP-Result»: subject=Result |
| 2 | **run** | past | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Press on — you're nearly finished!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:press:x8:1
# text = Press on — you're nearly finished!
1	Press	press	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
6	nearly	nearly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	finished	finish	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **finish** | present · passive |  | Press |  |  |  | nearly *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: subject=Eventuality |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘Press your finger on the latch, then push and the door opens.’

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:press:x9:1
# text = ‘Press your finger on the latch, then push and the door opens.’
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Press	press	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	latch	latch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	10	advmod	_	_
10	push	push	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	opens	open	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **press** | imperative | you *not said here* | your finger |  | the latch |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent finger=Theme |
| 2 | **push** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  | then |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **open** | present | the door |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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