---
title: roundabout — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «roundabout» in the school dictionary: A roundabout (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) is a circular junction where cars go around a middle island and leave at different roads (in the USA often a «traffic circle» or «rotary»). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# roundabout

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** roundabout, cars, round platform, children, you, We · **What happens:** be, go, leave, spin, ride, mean · **To what, where:** circular junction, middle island, different roads, round platform, US, roundabout · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«roundabout» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [roundabout in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/roundabout.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A roundabout (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) is a circular junction where cars go around a middle island and leave at different roads (in the USA often a «traffic circle» or «rotary»).

<!-- fold The tree, 32 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:roundabout:m1:1
# text = A roundabout (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) is a circular junction where cars go around a middle island and leave at different roads (in the USA often a «traffic circle» or «rotary»).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	roundabout	roundabout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	flat	_	_
11	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	circular	circular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	junction	junction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
17	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	19	advmod	_	_
18	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj	_	_
19	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	acl:relcl	_	_
20	around	around	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	middle	middle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	island	island	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	leave	leave	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	conj	_	_
26	at	at	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	28	amod	_	_
28	roads	road	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	obl	_	_
29	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	32	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	in	in	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
31	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
32	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	28	nmod	_	_
33	often	often	ADV	RB	_	37	advmod	_	_
34	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	37	det	_	_
35	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	37	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	37	compound	_	_
37	circle	circle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	37	punct	_	_
39	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	41	cc	_	_
40	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	41	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
41	rotary	rotary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	37	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
42	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	41	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
43	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	41	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
44	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a roundabout | a circular junction |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present | cars |  |  | a middle island |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme around island=Initial\_Location |
| 3 | **leave** | present | cars *not said here* |  |  | different roads in the USA |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent at road=Location |

<!-- .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 roundabout in a playground is a round platform that spins while children ride on it (US: merry-go-round).

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:roundabout:m2:1
# text = A roundabout in a playground is a round platform that spins while children ride on it (US: merry-go-round).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	roundabout	roundabout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	playground	playground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	round	round	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	platform	platform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	spins	spin	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
13	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
14	ride	ride	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obl	_	_
17	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
20	merry	merry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	20	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	round	round	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a roundabout in a playground | a round platform |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **spin** | present | a round platform | US |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **ride** | present | children |  |  | roundabout |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **go** | infinitive |  | round |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A roundabout can be a fairground merry-go-round with horses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:roundabout:m3:1
# text = A roundabout can be a fairground merry-go-round with horses.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	roundabout	roundabout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fairground	fairground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	merry	merry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	round	round	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	horses	horse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a roundabout | a fairground |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | infinitive | a roundabout *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Roundabout as an adjective means not direct: a roundabout way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:roundabout:m4:1
# text = Roundabout as an adjective means not direct: a roundabout way.
1	Roundabout	roundabout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	as	as	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	direct	direct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	roundabout	roundabout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Roundabout as a adjective |  |  |  |  | direct *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Take the second exit at the roundabout.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:roundabout:x1:1
# text = Take the second exit at the roundabout.
1	Take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	4	amod	_	_
4	exit	exit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	roundabout	roundabout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | imperative | you *not said here* | the second exit |  | the roundabout |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent exit=Theme at roundabout=Asset |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We spun round and round on the playground roundabout.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:roundabout:x2:1
# text = We spun round and round on the playground roundabout.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spun	spin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	round	round	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	round	round	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	playground	playground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	roundabout	roundabout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spin** | past | We |  |  | the playground roundabout |  | round *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme on roundabout=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hold on tight on the roundabout!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:roundabout:x3:1
# text = Hold on tight on the roundabout!
1	Hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	tight	tight	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	roundabout	roundabout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold on** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the roundabout |  | tight *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on roundabout=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bus went round the roundabout.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:roundabout:x4:1
# text = The bus went round the roundabout.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	round	round	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	roundabout	roundabout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the bus |  |  | the roundabout |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme round roundabout=Initial\_Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She told the story in a roundabout way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:roundabout:x5:1
# text = She told the story in a roundabout way.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	roundabout	roundabout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | She | the story |  | a roundabout way |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cars on the roundabout have right of way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:roundabout:x6:1
# text = Cars on the roundabout have right of way.
1	Cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	roundabout	roundabout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	right	right	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Cars on the roundabout | way |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a certain town, the road to which was a very roundabout one.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:roundabout:x7:1
# text = There was a certain town, the road to which was a very roundabout one.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
10	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	very	very	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	roundabout	roundabout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
15	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a certain town |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | the road |  |  |  |  | to a roundabout | tree rules |

<!-- 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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