---
title: spire — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spire» in the school dictionary: A spire is a tall, pointed, cone-shaped structure on top of a building, usually on a church tower. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spire

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** spire, church spire, Salisbury Cathedral, We, Oxford, Lightning · **What happens:** be, point, shape, rise, have, see · **To what, where:** anything, village, tall spire, spire, motorway, sea

<!-- .vabout -->
«spire» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [spire in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spire.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spire is a tall, pointed, cone-shaped structure on top of a building, usually on a church tower.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spire:m1:1
# text = A spire is a tall, pointed, cone-shaped structure on top of a building, usually on a church tower.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spire	spire	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	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	cone	cone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	amod	_	_
12	structure	structure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
19	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
20	on	on	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a spire |  |  |  |  | tall *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **point** | participle | a spire *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

<!-- .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 spire can be anything tall, thin and pointed, like a rock spire or the tip of a tree.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spire:m2:1
# text = A spire can be anything tall, thin and pointed, like a rock spire or the tip of a tree.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spire	spire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
6	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	pointed	pointed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	spire	spire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	tip	tip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a spire | anything |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The church spire rose above the village.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spire:x1:1
# text = The church spire rose above the village.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	spire	spire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	above	above	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise** | past | the church spire |  |  | the village |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent above village=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Salisbury Cathedral has a very tall spire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spire:x2:1
# text = Salisbury Cathedral has a very tall spire.
1	Salisbury	Salisbury	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Cathedral	Cathedral	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	spire	spire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Salisbury Cathedral | a tall spire |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spire=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We could see the spire from the motorway.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spire:x3:1
# text = We could see the spire from the motorway.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	spire	spire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	motorway	motorway	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 | **see** | could | We | the spire |  | the motorway |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer spire=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oxford is famous for its spires.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spire:x4:1
# text = Oxford is famous for its spires.
1	Oxford	Oxford	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	spires	spire	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Oxford |  |  |  |  | for its spires; famous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lightning struck the spire during the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spire:x5:1
# text = Lightning struck the spire during the storm.
1	Lightning	lightning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	struck	strike	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	spire	spire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	during	during	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	storm	storm	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 | **strike** | past | Lightning | the spire |  |  | during the storm |  | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spire=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rocky spires stood up from the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spire:x6:1
# text = Rocky spires stood up from the sea.
1	Rocky	rocky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	spires	spire	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand up** | past | Rocky spires |  |  | the sea |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spire is shaped like a tall cone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spire:x7:1
# text = A spire is shaped like a tall cone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spire	spire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	cone	cone	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 | **shape** | present · passive |  | a spire |  |  |  | like a tall cone | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
All they could see was a mass of towers and steeples behind the green walls, and high up above everything the spires and dome of the Palace of Oz.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spire:x8:1
# text = All they could see was a mass of towers and steeples behind the green walls, and high up above everything the spires and dome of the Palace of Oz.
1	All	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	nsubj	_	_
2	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	acl:relcl	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	mass	mass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	towers	tower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	steeples	steeple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
12	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
19	up	up	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
20	above	above	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	7	nmod	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	spires	spire	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	appos	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	dome	dome	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	Palace	Palace	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	_
29	of	of	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
30	Oz.	Oz.	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	28	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | could | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is a** | past | All | a mass |  | everything |  | of towers behind the green walls and steeples | 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 -->

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