---
title: timpani — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «timpani» in the school dictionary: Timpani are large, round, bowl-shaped drums made of copper with skin or plastic stretched over the top, played with soft-headed sticks in an orchestra; they are also called kettledrums. Unlike most drums, each one can be tuned to play a particular note. Every mean
---

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# timpani

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Timpani, timpanist, orchestra, timpani roll, music, timpano · **What happens:** be, shape, make, stretch, play, head · **To what, where:** shaped drums, skin, top, Timpani, one, particular note · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Timpani are large, round, bowl-shaped drums made of copper with skin or plastic stretched over the top, played with soft-headed sticks in an orchestra; they are also called kettledrums. Unlike most drums, each one can be tuned to play a particular note.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Timpani are large, round, bowl-shaped drums made of copper with skin or plastic stretched over the top, played with soft-headed sticks in an orchestra; they are also called kettledrums.

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timpani:m1:1
# text = Timpani are large, round, bowl-shaped drums made of copper with skin or plastic stretched over the top, played with soft-headed sticks in an orchestra; they are also called kettledrums.
1	Timpani	timpani	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	round	round	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	bowl	bowl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	drums	drum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
11	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	copper	copper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
18	stretched	stretch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	acl	_	_
19	over	over	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	played	play	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
24	with	with	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
25	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	headed	head	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	28	amod	_	_
28	sticks	stick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	obl	_	_
29	in	in	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
30	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	orchestra	orchestra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	36	punct	_	_
33	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	36	nsubj:pass	_	_
34	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	36	aux:pass	_	_
35	also	also	ADV	RB	_	36	advmod	_	_
36	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
37	kettledrums	kettledrum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	36	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Timpani |  |  |  |  | large *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Timpani *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 4 | **make** | participle |  | shaped drums *not said here* |  |  |  | of copper with skin or plastic | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 5 | **stretch** | participle |  | skin or plastic *not said here* |  | the top |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over top=Location |
| 6 | **play** | participle | Timpani *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with headed sticks in a orchestra | vn play-114.2-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with stick=Theme |
| 7 | **head** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conduct-111.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 8 | **call** | present · passive |  | Timpani |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Unlike most drums, each one can be tuned to play a particular note.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timpani:m1:2
# text = Unlike most drums, each one can be tuned to play a particular note.
1	Unlike	unlike	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	drums	drum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	tuned	tune	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	particular	particular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	note	note	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tune** | can · passive |  | each one |  |  |  | unlike most drums | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | to-infinitive |  | a particular note |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent note=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The timpani boomed like thunder at the end of the piece.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timpani:x1:1
# text = The timpani boomed like thunder at the end of the piece.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	timpani	timpani	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	boomed	boom	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	thunder	thunder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **boom** | participle |  | the timpani *not said here* |  |  | at the end of the piece | like thunder | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Agent at end=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The timpanist tuned the drums with foot pedals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timpani:x2:1
# text = The timpanist tuned the drums with foot pedals.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	timpanist	timpanist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tuned	tune	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	drums	drum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	pedals	pedal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tune** | past | the timpanist | the drums |  |  |  | with foot pedals | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Timpani are also called kettledrums.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timpani:x3:1
# text = Timpani are also called kettledrums.
1	Timpani	timpani	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	kettledrums	kettledrum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | Timpani |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An orchestra usually has two to five timpani.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timpani:x4:1
# text = An orchestra usually has two to five timpani.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	orchestra	orchestra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nmod	_	_
8	timpani	timpani	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The timpani roll made the music feel scary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timpani:x5:1
# text = The timpani roll made the music feel scary.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	timpani	timpani	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	roll	roll	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
8	scary	scary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the timpani roll | the music |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | infinitive | the music *not said here* |  |  |  |  | scary *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each timpano can play a different note.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timpani:x6:1
# text = Each timpano can play a different note.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	timpano	timpano	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	note	note	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | can | each timpano | a different note |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent note=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw the timpani at the back of the orchestra.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timpani:x7:1
# text = We saw the timpani at the back of the orchestra.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	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	timpani	timpani	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	orchestra	orchestra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | the timpani |  | the back of the orchestra |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer timpani=Stimulus |

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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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