---
title: tightrope — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tightrope» in the school dictionary: A tightrope is a rope or wire stretched tight high above the ground, which an acrobat walks along. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tightrope

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tightrope, acrobat, you, small mistake, She, her · **What happens:** be, stretch, walk, mean, cause, cross · **To what, where:** rope, ground, tightrope, difficult situation, trouble, tightrope walker · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tightrope is a rope or wire stretched tight high above the ground, which an acrobat walks along.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tightrope:m1:1
# text = A tightrope is a rope or wire stretched tight high above the ground, which an acrobat walks along.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tightrope	tightrope	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	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	wire	wire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	stretched	stretch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
9	tight	tight	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	high	high	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	_
11	above	above	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	obj	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	acrobat	acrobat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
18	walks	walk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	_
19	along	along	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tightrope | a rope or wire |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stretch** | participle |  | a rope or wire *not said here* |  | the ground |  | high, tight *property* | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **walk** | present | a acrobat | the ground |  |  |  | along *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme which=Trajectory |

<!-- .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 -->
«To walk a tightrope» means to be in a difficult situation where you must be very careful, because a small mistake could cause trouble.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tightrope:m2:1
# text = «To walk a tightrope» means to be in a difficult situation where you must be very careful, because a small mistake could cause trouble.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	walk	walk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	nsubj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tightrope	tightrope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	cop	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	ccomp	_	_
14	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	19	advmod	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
16	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
17	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	cop	_	_
18	very	very	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
21	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	26	mark	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nsubj	_	_
25	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	26	aux	_	_
26	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	parataxis	_	_
27	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** *in a quote* | to-infinitive |  | a tightrope |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme tightrope=Trajectory |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | a difficult situation |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **is** | must | you |  |  |  |  | careful *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **cause** | could | a small mistake | trouble |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition trouble=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tightrope walker crossed high above the circus ring.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tightrope:x1:1
# text = The tightrope walker crossed high above the circus ring.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tightrope	tightrope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	walker	walker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	crossed	cross	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	high	high	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	_
6	above	above	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	circus	circus	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	ring	ring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cross** | participle |  | the tightrope walker *not said here* |  | the circus ring |  | high *property* | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She held a long pole to keep her balance on the tightrope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tightrope:x2:1
# text = She held a long pole to keep her balance on the tightrope.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	held	hold	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	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	pole	pole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	balance	balance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	tightrope	tightrope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | She | a long pole |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pole=Theme |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | her balance |  | the tightrope |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent balance=Theme on tightrope=Location |
| 3 | **balance** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom balance «state intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nobody fell off the tightrope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tightrope:x3:1
# text = Nobody fell off the tightrope.
1	Nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	2	nsubj	_	_
2	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	off	off	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tightrope	tightrope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall off** | past | Nobody | the tightrope |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.patient V NP.extent PP.source PP.goal»: agent=Patient tightrope=Extent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher showed that a pole helps balance, just like on a tightrope.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tightrope:x4:1
# text = Our teacher showed that a pole helps balance, just like on a tightrope.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pole	pole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
8	balance	balance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	just	just	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	tightrope	tightrope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | Our teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **help** | present | a pole | balance and a tightrope |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent balance=Beneficiary |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being friends with both groups felt like walking a tightrope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tightrope:x5:1
# text = Being friends with both groups felt like walking a tightrope.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	walking	walk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	tightrope	tightrope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | gerund |  | friends |  |  |  | with both groups | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | past | friends |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **walk** | gerund | friends *not said here* | a tightrope |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme tightrope=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a safety net under the tightrope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tightrope:x6:1
# text = There was a safety net under the tightrope.
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	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	net	net	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tightrope	tightrope	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 | **be** | past | a safety net |  |  | the tightrope; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme under tightrope=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made a pretend tightrope with a line of tape on the floor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tightrope:x7:1
# text = We made a pretend tightrope with a line of tape on the floor.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	pretend	pretend	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	tightrope	tightrope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	tape	tape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | a pretend tightrope |  |  |  | with a line of tape on the floor | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tightrope=Product |

<!-- 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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