---
title: relay — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «relay» in the school dictionary: A relay or relay race is a race between teams in which each runner or swimmer does one part and then passes on to the next, often by handing over a baton. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# relay

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** relay, runner, device, class, you, swimmers · **What happens:** be, do, pass on, hand over, relay, pass · **To what, where:** race, one part, teams, next, baton, message

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A relay or relay race is a race between teams in which each runner or swimmer does one part and then passes on to the next, often by handing over a baton.

<!-- fold The tree, 32 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:relay:m1:1
# text = A relay or relay race is a race between teams in which each runner or swimmer does one part and then passes on to the next, often by handing over a baton.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	relay	relay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	relay	relay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	between	between	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	teams	team	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	17	obl	_	_
13	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	14	det	_	_
14	runner	runner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	swimmer	swimmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
18	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	19	nummod	_	_
19	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	22	advmod	_	_
22	passes	pass	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	conj	_	_
23	on	on	ADP	RP	_	22	compound:prt	_	_
24	to	to	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
28	often	often	ADV	RB	_	30	advmod	_	_
29	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	30	mark	_	_
30	handing	hand	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	22	advcl	_	_
31	over	over	ADP	RP	_	30	compound:prt	_	_
32	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	33	det	_	_
33	baton	baton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a relay or relay race | a race |  |  |  | between teams | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | present | each runner or swimmer | one part |  | teams |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent part=Eventuality |
| 3 | **pass on** | present | each runner or swimmer *not said here* |  |  | the next | then |  | vn send-11.1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent to next=Destination |
| 4 | **hand over** | gerund | each runner or swimmer *not said here* | a baton |  |  |  | often *property* | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent baton=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To relay a message is to pass it on to someone else.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:relay:m2:1
# text = To relay a message is to pass it on to someone else.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	relay	relay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	pass	pass	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obl	_	_
12	else	else	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **relay** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  | a message |  |  |  |  | vn instr\_communication-37.4.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent message=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | to someone; pass *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A device that passes on signals, or a switch in an electric circuit.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:relay:m3:1
# text = A device that passes on signals, or a switch in an electric circuit.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	device	device	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	passes	pass	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	signals	signal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	switch	switch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	electric	electric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	circuit	circuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** | present | a device or a switch in a electric circuit |  |  | signals |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme on signal=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class won the relay race.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:relay:x1:1
# text = Our class won the relay race.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	won	win	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	relay	relay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	race	race	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 | **win** | past | Our class | the relay race |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent race=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't drop the baton in the relay!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:relay:x2:1
# text = Don't drop the baton in the relay!
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	drop	drop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	baton	baton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	relay	relay	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** **drop** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the baton |  | the relay |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent baton=Theme in relay=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please relay the message to your teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:relay:x3:1
# text = Please relay the message to your teacher.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	relay	relay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	teacher	teacher	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 | **relay** *speech: other* | imperative | you *not said here* | the message | your teacher |  |  |  | vn instr\_communication-37.4.1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent message=Topic to teacher=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The swimmers did a four-person relay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:relay:x4:1
# text = The swimmers did a four-person relay.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	swimmers	swimmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	relay	relay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | the swimmers | a person relay |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent relay=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The firefighters worked in relays all night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:relay:x5:1
# text = The firefighters worked in relays all night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	firefighters	firefighter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	relays	relay	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | past | the firefighters |  |  |  | night | in relays | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in relay=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The satellite relays TV signals around the world.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:relay:x6:1
# text = The satellite relays TV signals around the world.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	satellite	satellite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	relays	relay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	signals	signal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	around	around	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **relay** *speech: other* | present | the satellite | TV signals |  | the world |  |  | vn instr\_communication-37.4.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent signal=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I ran the last leg of the relay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:relay:x7:1
# text = I ran the last leg of the relay.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	leg	leg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	relay	relay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | I | the last leg of the relay |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme leg=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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