---
title: traction — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «traction» in the school dictionary: Traction is the grip that stops a wheel, shoe or tyre from slipping on a surface. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# traction

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Traction, grip, shoe, engine, hospital traction, that · **What happens:** be, stop, slip, pull, use, move · **To what, where:** grip, wheel, surface, pulling force, something, train

<!-- .vabout -->
«traction» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [traction in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/traction.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Traction is the grip that stops a wheel, shoe or tyre from slipping on a surface.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traction:m1:1
# text = Traction is the grip that stops a wheel, shoe or tyre from slipping on a surface.
1	Traction	traction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	grip	grip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	wheel	wheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	shoe	shoe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	tyre	tyre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	slipping	slip	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	acl	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	surface	surface	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Traction | the grip and shoe or tyre |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stop** | present | the grip and shoe or tyre | a wheel |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality wheel=Eventuality |
| 3 | **slip** | gerund | shoe or tyre *not said here* |  |  | a surface |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

<!-- .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 -->
Traction is the pulling force used to move something along, like an engine pulling a train.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traction:m2:1
# text = Traction is the pulling force used to move something along, like an engine pulling a train.
1	Traction	traction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	pulling	pull	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	along	along	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
15	pulling	pull	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	acl	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn slide-11.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Traction | the pulling force |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **use** | participle |  | the pulling force *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **move** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | like a engine; along *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 5 | **pull** | gerund | a engine *not said here* | a train |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent train=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In hospital, traction is a set of weights and pulleys that gently pulls a broken bone or injured back into the right place.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traction:m3:1
# text = In hospital, traction is a set of weights and pulleys that gently pulls a broken bone or injured back into the right place.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	hospital	hospital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	traction	traction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	weights	weight	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	pulleys	pulley	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
13	gently	gently	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	pulls	pull	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	amod	_	_
17	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	injured	injure	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	conj	_	_
20	back	back	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
21	into	into	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | hospital traction | a set |  |  |  | of weights and pulleys | tree rules |
| 2 | **pull** | present | that | a broken bone |  |  |  | gently *property* | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bone=Theme |
| 3 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **injure back** | participle | that *not said here* |  |  | the right place |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An idea or plan gains traction when more and more people start to support it.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traction:m4:1
# text = An idea or plan gains traction when more and more people start to support it.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	gains	gain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	traction	traction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	12	mark	_	_
8	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	amod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	conj	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	support	support	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **gain** | present | a idea or plan | traction |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent traction=Theme |
| 2 | **start** | present | more people |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **support** | to-infinitive | more people *not said here* | traction |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My trainers have good traction on the gym floor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traction:x1:1
# text = My trainers have good traction on the gym floor.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	trainers	trainer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	traction	traction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	gym	gym	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | My trainers | good traction |  | the gym floor |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent traction=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The car lost traction on the icy road and slid.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traction:x2:1
# text = The car lost traction on the icy road and slid.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	traction	traction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	icy	icy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	slid	slide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | past | the car | traction |  | the icy road |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent traction=Eventuality |
| 2 | **slide** | past | the car *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put sand on the ice to give the wheels more traction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traction:x3:1
# text = Put sand on the ice to give the wheels more traction.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	wheels	wheel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	amod	_	_
11	traction	traction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | sand |  | the ice |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent sand=Theme on ice=Destination |
| 2 | **give** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the wheels |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent wheel=Recipient traction=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Steam engines gave the traction that pulled the first trains.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traction:x4:1
# text = Steam engines gave the traction that pulled the first trains.
1	Steam	steam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	engines	engine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	traction	traction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	pulled	pull	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	10	amod	_	_
10	trains	train	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | Steam engines | the traction |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent traction=Theme |
| 2 | **pull** | past | the traction | the first trains |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent train=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the fall, Grandad's leg was in traction for two weeks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traction:x5:1
# text = After the fall, Grandad's leg was in traction for two weeks.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	fall	fall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	leg	leg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	traction	traction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	weeks	week	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Grandad's leg |  |  | traction | after the fall; week |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The idea of a longer lunch break gained traction with the whole class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traction:x6:1
# text = The idea of a longer lunch break gained traction with the whole class.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	longer	long	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	amod	_	_
6	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	break	break	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	gained	gain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	traction	traction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **gain** | past | the idea of a longer lunch break | traction |  |  |  | with the whole class | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent traction=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mud gives bike tyres very little traction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traction:x7:1
# text = Mud gives bike tyres very little traction.
1	Mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	tyres	tyre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	traction	traction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | Mud | bike tyres |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent tyre=Recipient traction=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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