---
title: towelling — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «towelling» in the school dictionary: Towelling is a thick, soft, absorbent cotton cloth with little loops, used to make towels, bathrobes and baby bibs. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# towelling

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Towelling, We, bib, Tennis players, Dad · **What happens:** be, use, make, dry, mean, soak up · **To what, where:** thick soft absorbent cotton cloth, little loops, towels, rub, yourself, beating · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Towelling is a thick, soft, absorbent cotton cloth with little loops, used to make towels, bathrobes and baby bibs.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:towelling:m1:1
# text = Towelling is a thick, soft, absorbent cotton cloth with little loops, used to make towels, bathrobes and baby bibs.
1	Towelling	towelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
4	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	absorbent	absorbent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	cotton	cotton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	loops	loop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	acl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	advcl	_	_
18	towels	towel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	bathrobes	bathrobe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	bibs	bib	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Towelling | a thick soft absorbent cotton cloth |  |  |  | with little loops | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | little loops *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | towels and bathrobes and baby bibs |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset towel=Product |

<!-- .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 towelling can be a rub with a towel to dry yourself.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:towelling:m2:1
# text = A towelling can be a rub with a towel to dry yourself.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	towelling	towelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rub	rub	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	towel	towel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	dry	dry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
12	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a towelling | a rub |  |  |  | with a towel | tree rules |
| 2 | **dry** | to-infinitive | a towelling *not said here* | yourself |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Patient yourself=Result |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: old, informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A towelling once meant a beating.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:towelling:m3:1
# text = A towelling once meant a beating.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	towelling	towelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	4	advmod	_	_
4	meant	mean	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	beating	beating	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 | **mean** | past | a towelling | a beating |  |  |  | once *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent beating=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My dressing gown is made of soft towelling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:towelling:x1:1
# text = My dressing gown is made of soft towelling.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	dressing	dressing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	gown	gown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	towelling	towelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | My dressing gown |  |  |  | of soft towelling | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Towelling soaks up water well.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:towelling:x2:1
# text = Towelling soaks up water well.
1	Towelling	towelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	soaks	soak	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **soak up** | present | Towelling | water |  |  |  | well *property* | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent water=Source |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We tested towelling, cotton and plastic to see which absorbed most water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:towelling:x3:1
# text = We tested towelling, cotton and plastic to see which absorbed most water.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tested	test	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	towelling	towelling	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	cotton	cotton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
10	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	absorbed	absorb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
12	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	13	amod	_	_
13	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **towelling** | gerund | We *not said here* | cotton and plastic |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **see** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 4 | **absorb** | past |  | most water |  |  |  |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Goal water=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby's bib was white towelling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:towelling:x4:1
# text = The baby's bib was white towelling.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	bib	bib	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	towelling	towelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the baby's bib | white towelling |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tennis players wear towelling wristbands to wipe sweat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:towelling:x5:1
# text = Tennis players wear towelling wristbands to wipe sweat.
1	Tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wear	wear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	towelling	towelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	wristbands	wristband	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	wipe	wipe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	sweat	sweat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | present | Tennis players | towelling wristbands |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent wristband=Source |
| 2 | **wipe** | to-infinitive | Tennis players *not said here* | sweat |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent sweat=Source |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the swim, Dad gave me a quick towelling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:towelling:x6:1
# text = After the swim, Dad gave me a quick towelling.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	swim	swim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	iobj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	towelling	towelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | Dad | a quick towelling | me |  | after the swim |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient towelling=Theme |

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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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