---
title: steamroller — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «steamroller» in the school dictionary: A heavy machine with big, wide rollers that flattens roads; once powered by steam, now usually by diesel (often called a road roller). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# steamroller

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** heavy machine, diesel, force, steamroller, team, boss · **What happens:** flatten, power, call, force, defeat, ignore · **To what, where:** roads, road roller, something, someone, objections, opposition · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«steamroller» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [steamroller in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/steamroller.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A heavy machine with big, wide rollers that flattens roads; once powered by steam, now usually by diesel (often called a road roller).

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steamroller:m1:1
# text = A heavy machine with big, wide rollers that flattens roads; once powered by steam, now usually by diesel (often called a road roller).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	rollers	roller	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	flattens	flatten	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	roads	road	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
13	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	14	advmod	_	_
14	powered	power	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	xcomp	_	_
15	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	steam	steam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
18	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	21	advmod	_	_
19	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
20	by	by	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	diesel	diesel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	parataxis	_	_
22	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	often	often	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
24	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	21	acl	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	compound	_	_
27	roller	roller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flatten** | present | a heavy machine | roads |  |  |  | with big wide rollers | tree rules |
| 2 | **power** | participle | a heavy machine *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by steam; once *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **call** | participle | diesel *not said here* | a road roller |  |  |  | often *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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, informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To force something through or defeat someone easily with great power, ignoring objections.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steamroller:m2:1
# text = To force something through or defeat someone easily with great power, ignoring objections.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	force	force	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	3	nmod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	defeat	defeat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	ignoring	ignore	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
14	objections	objection	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **force** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Recipient |
| 2 | **defeat** | infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  | with great power; easily *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **ignore** | gerund |  | objections |  |  |  |  | vn neglect-75.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent objection=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A force that crushes all opposition.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steamroller:m3:1
# text = A force that crushes all opposition.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	crushes	crush	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	opposition	opposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crush** | present | a force | all opposition |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent opposition=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The steamroller flattened the new road.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steamroller:x1:1
# text = The steamroller flattened the new road.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	steamroller	steamroller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	flattened	flatten	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	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	road	road	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 | **flatten** | past | the steamroller | the new road |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent road=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cartoon cat was squashed flat by a steamroller.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steamroller:x2:1
# text = The cartoon cat was squashed flat by a steamroller.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cartoon	cartoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	squashed	squash	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	flat	flat	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	steamroller	steamroller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squash** | past · passive | a steamroller | the cartoon cat |  |  |  | flat *property* | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team steamrollered their opponents 8–0.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steamroller:x3:1
# text = The team steamrollered their opponents 8–0.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	steamrollered	steamroller	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	opponents	opponent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	–	–	SYM	SYM	ExtPos=ADP	8	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	0	0	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steamroller** | past | the team | their opponents |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent opponent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boss steamrollered the plan through the meeting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steamroller:x4:1
# text = The boss steamrollered the plan through the meeting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	steamrollered	steamroller	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	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	through	through	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	meeting	meeting	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 | **steamroller** | past | the boss | the plan |  | the meeting |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plan=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old steamrollers puff smoke at the vintage show.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steamroller:x5:1
# text = Old steamrollers puff smoke at the vintage show.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	steamrollers	steamroller	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	puff	puff	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	vintage	vintage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	show	show	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 | **puff** | present | Old steamrollers | smoke |  | the vintage show |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location smoke=Source |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched the steamroller go slowly back and forth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steamroller:x6:1
# text = We watched the steamroller go slowly back and forth.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	steamroller	steamroller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	back	back	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	forth	forth	ADV	RB	_	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | infinitive | the steamroller |  |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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