---
title: tower — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tower» in the school dictionary: A tower is a tall, narrow building or part of a building, like a castle tower or a clock tower. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tower

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tower, Tim, block, Rapunzel, castle, giraffe · **What happens:** be, build, let down, have, tower · **To what, where:** tall narrow building, tall stack, tower, hair, four towers, tallest tower

<!-- .vabout -->
«tower» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [tower in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tower.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tower is a tall, narrow building or part of a building, like a castle tower or a clock tower.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tower:m1:1
# text = A tower is a tall, narrow building or part of a building, like a castle tower or a clock tower.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	like	like	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tower | a tall narrow building or part of a building and a castle tower or a clock tower |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 tower is a tall stack of things: a tower of blocks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tower:m2:1
# text = A tower is a tall stack of things: a tower of blocks.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	stack	stack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	blocks	block	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tower | a tall stack and a tower of blocks |  |  |  | of things | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To tower over something is to be much taller than it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tower:m3:1
# text = To tower over something is to be much taller than it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	over	over	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
8	much	much	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	taller	tall	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
10	than	than	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | tower over something |  |  |  |  | than it; tall *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tower is 50 meters tall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tower:x1:1
# text = The tower is 50 meters tall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	50	50	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	meters	meter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the tower |  |  |  |  | 50 meters *obl:unmarked*; tall *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tim built a tower of 12 blocks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tower:x2:1
# text = Tim built a tower of 12 blocks.
1	Tim	Tim	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	built	build	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	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	blocks	block	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | Tim | a tower of 12 blocks |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tower=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each block is 3 cm high.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tower:x3:1
# text = Each block is 3 cm high.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	block	block	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	cm	cm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | each block |  |  |  |  | 3 cm *obl:unmarked*; high *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her tower is 4 blocks taller than his.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tower:x4:1
# text = Her tower is 4 blocks taller than his.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	blocks	block	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	taller	tall	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Her tower |  |  |  |  | 4 blocks *obl:unmarked*; tall *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rapunzel let down her hair from the tower.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tower:x5:1
# text = Rapunzel let down her hair from the tower.
1	Rapunzel	Rapunzel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	let	let	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	down	down	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tower	tower	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 | **let down** | past | Rapunzel | Rapunzel's hair |  | the tower |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hair=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle has four towers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tower:x6:1
# text = The castle has four towers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	towers	tower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the castle | four towers |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tower=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The giraffe towered over the zebras.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tower:x7:1
# text = The giraffe towered over the zebras.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	giraffe	giraffe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	towered	tower	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	zebras	zebra	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tower** | past | the giraffe |  |  |  |  | over the zebras | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over zebra=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team built the tallest tower out of paper cups.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tower:x8:1
# text = Our team built the tallest tower out of paper cups.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	built	build	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	tallest	tall	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	cups	cup	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | Our team | the tallest tower |  | paper cups |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset tower=Product |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So the King had a tower built on purpose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tower:x9:1
# text = So the King had a tower built on purpose.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	King	King	PROPN	NNP	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	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the King | a tower |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tower=Patient |
| 2 | **build** | participle |  | a tower *not said here* |  | purpose |  |  | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent on purpose=Source |

<!-- 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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