---
title: spatula — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spatula» in the school dictionary: A spatula is a kitchen tool with a wide, flat, bendy blade, used for spreading, mixing, scraping or lifting food. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spatula

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** spatula, doctors, you, She, we, doctor · **What happens:** be, use, scrape, lift, scoop, press down · **To what, where:** kitchen tool, food, small flat tool, science labs, powders, tongue

<!-- .vabout -->
«spatula» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [spatula in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spatula.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spatula is a kitchen tool with a wide, flat, bendy blade, used for spreading, mixing, scraping or lifting food.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spatula:m1:1
# text = A spatula is a kitchen tool with a wide, flat, bendy blade, used for spreading, mixing, scraping or lifting food.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spatula	spatula	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
9	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
13	bendy	bendy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	blade	blade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	parataxis	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	spreading	spreading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	mixing	mixing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
22	scraping	scrape	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	advcl	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	lifting	lift	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	22	conj	_	_
25	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spatula | a kitchen tool |  |  |  | with a wide flat bendy blade | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | for spreading and mixing | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **scrape** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **lift** | gerund |  | food |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=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 -->
A spatula is also a small flat tool used in science labs to scoop powders, or by doctors to press down your tongue.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spatula:m2:1
# text = A spatula is also a small flat tool used in science labs to scoop powders, or by doctors to press down your tongue.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spatula	spatula	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	labs	lab	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	scoop	scoop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
15	powders	powder	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
18	by	by	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	doctors	doctor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	press	press	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
22	down	down	ADP	RP	_	21	compound:prt	_	_
23	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	24	nmod:poss	_	_
24	tongue	tongue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spatula | a small flat tool |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a small flat tool *not said here* |  | science labs |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **scoop** | to-infinitive |  | powders |  |  |  |  | vn funnel-9.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent powder=Theme |
| 4 | **press down** | to-infinitive | doctors | your tongue |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tongue=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flip the pancake with a spatula.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spatula:x1:1
# text = Flip the pancake with a spatula.
1	Flip	flip	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	pancake	pancake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	spatula	spatula	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 | **flip** | imperative | you *not said here* | the pancake |  |  |  | with a spatula | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pancake=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She scraped the last of the cake mix out with a spatula.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spatula:x2:1
# text = She scraped the last of the cake mix out with a spatula.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	scraped	scrape	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	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	mix	mix	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
9	out	out	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	spatula	spatula	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scrape** | past | She | the last |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mix out** | infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with a spatula | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V PP.co-patient»: agent=Patient with spatula=Co-Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use the spatula to spread the icing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spatula:x3:1
# text = Use the spatula to spread the icing.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	spatula	spatula	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	spread	spread	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	icing	icing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | the spatula |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spatula=Patient |
| 2 | **spread** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the icing |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location icing=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In science we took one spatula of salt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spatula:x4:1
# text = In science we took one spatula of salt.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	spatula	spatula	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | we | one spatula of salt |  | science |  |  | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent spatula=Value in science=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor pressed my tongue with a wooden spatula.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spatula:x5:1
# text = The doctor pressed my tongue with a wooden spatula.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pressed	press	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	tongue	tongue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	spatula	spatula	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **press** | past | the doctor | my tongue |  |  |  | with a wooden spatula | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tongue=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't use a metal spatula on a non-stick pan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spatula:x6:1
# text = Don't use a metal spatula on a non-stick pan.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	spatula	spatula	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	non-stick	non-stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	pan	pan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **use** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | a metal spatula |  | a non-stick pan |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spatula=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad lifted the burger onto the bun with a spatula.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spatula:x7:1
# text = Dad lifted the burger onto the bun with a spatula.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lifted	lift	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	burger	burger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bun	bun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	spatula	spatula	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lift** | past | Dad | the burger |  | the bun |  | with a spatula | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent burger=Theme onto bun=Destination |

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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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