---
title: toothpick — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «toothpick» in the school dictionary: A toothpick is a small thin stick of wood or plastic with a point, used to remove bits of food from between your teeth. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# toothpick

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** toothpick, Mum, mini sandwich, We, cube, Grandpa · **What happens:** be, use, remove, hold, test, cook · **To what, where:** small thin stick, bits, teeth, Toothpicks, small pieces, cake

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A toothpick is a small thin stick of wood or plastic with a point, used to remove bits of food from between your teeth.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toothpick:m1:1
# text = A toothpick is a small thin stick of wood or plastic with a point, used to remove bits of food from between your teeth.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	toothpick	toothpick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	remove	remove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	_
19	bits	bit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obj	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	_
22	from	from	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	between	between	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
25	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a toothpick | a small thin stick |  |  |  | of wood or plastic; with a point | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a small thin stick *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **remove** | to-infinitive |  | bits of food |  | your teeth |  |  | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent bit=Theme from tooth=Source |

<!-- .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 -->
Toothpicks are also used to hold small pieces of food together or to test whether a cake is cooked.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toothpick:m2:1
# text = Toothpicks are also used to hold small pieces of food together or to test whether a cake is cooked.
1	Toothpicks	toothpick	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	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	together	together	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	test	test	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
15	whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj:pass	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux:pass	_	_
19	cooked	cook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Toothpicks |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **hold** | to-infinitive |  | small pieces of food |  |  |  | together *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent piece=Theme |
| 3 | **test** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **cook** | present · passive |  | a cake |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum pushed a toothpick into the cake to see if it was done.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toothpick:x1:1
# text = Mum pushed a toothpick into the cake to see if it was done.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pushed	push	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	toothpick	toothpick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	done	done	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **push** | past | Mum | a toothpick |  | the cake |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent toothpick=Theme into cake=Destination |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | Mum *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | past | toothpick |  |  |  |  | done *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each mini sandwich had a toothpick through the middle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toothpick:x2:1
# text = Each mini sandwich had a toothpick through the middle.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
2	mini	mini	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sandwich	sandwich	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	toothpick	toothpick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	through	through	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	middle	middle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | each mini sandwich | a toothpick |  | the middle |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent toothpick=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We built a cube from toothpicks and marshmallows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toothpick:x3:1
# text = We built a cube from toothpicks and marshmallows.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cube	cube	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	toothpicks	toothpick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	marshmallows	marshmallow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | We | a cube |  | toothpicks and marshmallows |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent cube=Product from toothpick=Material |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cube needs twelve toothpicks, one for each edge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toothpick:x4:1
# text = A cube needs twelve toothpicks, one for each edge.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cube	cube	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	twelve	twelve	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	toothpicks	toothpick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	appos	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | a cube | twelve toothpicks |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot toothpick=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa used a toothpick after dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toothpick:x5:1
# text = Grandpa used a toothpick after dinner.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	toothpick	toothpick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Grandpa | a toothpick |  |  | after dinner |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent toothpick=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep toothpicks away from the baby.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toothpick:x6:1
# text = Keep toothpicks away from the baby.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	toothpicks	toothpick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	baby	baby	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 | **keep away** | imperative | you *not said here* | toothpicks |  | the baby |  | away *property* | vn forbid-64.4 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Causer toothpick=Beneficiary from baby=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class made a bridge out of toothpicks and glue.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toothpick:x7:1
# text = Our class made a bridge out of toothpicks and glue.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	toothpicks	toothpick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	glue	glue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Our class | a bridge |  | toothpicks and glue |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset bridge=Product |

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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.

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