---
title: scalpel — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «scalpel» in the school dictionary: A small, very sharp knife used by surgeons in operations. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# scalpel

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**Who acts:** surgeon, scalpel, adults, scientist, nurse · **What happens:** use, ask, be, cut, throw away, count · **To what, where:** small sharp knife, operations, similar sharp knife, science, scalpel, art room

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«scalpel» 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: [scalpel in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scalpel.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small, very sharp knife used by surgeons in operations.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scalpel:m1:1
# text = A small, very sharp knife used by surgeons in operations.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	surgeons	surgeon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	operations	operation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a small sharp knife *not said here* |  | operations |  | by surgeons | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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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 similar sharp knife used in science, art or crafts for precise cutting.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scalpel:m2:1
# text = A similar sharp knife used in science, art or crafts for precise cutting.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	similar	similar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	crafts	craft	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	precise	precise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	cutting	cutting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a similar sharp knife *not said here* |  | science and art or crafts for precise cutting |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The surgeon asked for a scalpel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scalpel:x1:1
# text = The surgeon asked for a scalpel.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	surgeon	surgeon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	scalpel	scalpel	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 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the surgeon |  |  |  |  | for a scalpel | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A scalpel is sharper than a kitchen knife.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scalpel:x2:1
# text = A scalpel is sharper than a kitchen knife.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scalpel	scalpel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	sharper	sharp	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a scalpel |  |  |  |  | than a kitchen knife; sharp *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Only adults should use a scalpel in the art room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scalpel:x3:1
# text = Only adults should use a scalpel in the art room.
1	Only	only	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	adults	adult	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	scalpel	scalpel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | should | adults | a scalpel |  | the art room |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent scalpel=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientist cut the leaf with a scalpel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scalpel:x4:1
# text = The scientist cut the leaf with a scalpel.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cut	cut	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	scalpel	scalpel	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 | **cut** | past | the scientist | the leaf |  |  |  | with a scalpel | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leaf=Patient with scalpel=Instrument |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each scalpel blade is used once and then thrown away safely.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scalpel:x5:1
# text = Each scalpel blade is used once and then thrown away safely.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
2	scalpel	scalpel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	blade	blade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	5	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	9	advmod	_	_
9	thrown	throw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
10	away	away	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	safely	safely	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | each scalpel blade |  |  |  | once *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **throw away** | participle |  |  |  |  | then | away, safely *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nurse counted the scalpels after the operation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scalpel:x6:1
# text = The nurse counted the scalpels after the operation.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nurse	nurse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	counted	count	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	scalpels	scalpel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	operation	operation	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 | **count** | past | the nurse | the scalpels |  |  | after the operation |  | vn multiply-108 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent scalpel=Theme |

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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.

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