---
title: traverse — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «traverse» in the school dictionary: To traverse a place is to travel across or through it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# traverse

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** traverse, route, explorers, It, bridge, you · **What happens:** traverse, be, mean, go back, go, take · **To what, where:** place, something, route, climbing, slope, icy plains

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To traverse a place is to travel across or through it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traverse:m1:1
# text = To traverse a place is to travel across or through it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	traverse	traverse	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	travel	travel	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	across	across	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	through	through	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **traverse** | to-infinitive |  | a place |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme place=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | across, travel *property* | 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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To traverse can mean to go back and forth across something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traverse:m2:1
# text = To traverse can mean to go back and forth across something.
1	To	to	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	traverse	traverse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	back	back	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	forth	forth	ADV	RB	_	7	conj	_	_
10	across	across	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  | to traverse | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **go back** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | something |  |  | vn convert-26.6.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In climbing, a traverse is a route that goes sideways across a slope or cliff.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traverse:m3:1
# text = In climbing, a traverse is a route that goes sideways across a slope or cliff.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	climbing	climbing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	traverse	traverse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	route	route	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	sideways	sideways	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	across	across	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	slope	slope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	cliff	cliff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a traverse | a route |  | climbing |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present | a route |  |  | a slope or cliff |  | sideways *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme across slope=Initial\_Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The explorers traversed the icy plains.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traverse:x1:1
# text = The explorers traversed the icy plains.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	explorers	explorer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	traversed	traverse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	icy	icy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	plains	plain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **traverse** | past | the explorers | the icy plains |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme plain=Co-Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It took three days to traverse the forest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traverse:x2:1
# text = It took three days to traverse the forest.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	traverse	traverse	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | It |  |  |  | day |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **traverse** | to-infinitive |  | the forest |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme forest=Co-Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bridge traverses the river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traverse:x3:1
# text = A bridge traverses the river.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	traverses	traverse	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **traverse** | present | a bridge | the river |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme river=Co-Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you traverse this shape without lifting your pencil?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traverse:x4:1
# text = Can you traverse this shape without lifting your pencil?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	traverse	traverse	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	lifting	lift	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **traverse** | can | you | this shape |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme shape=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **lift** | gerund | you *not said here* | your pencil |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pencil=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The climber made a slow traverse across the cliff.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traverse:x5:1
# text = The climber made a slow traverse across the cliff.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	climber	climber	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	6	det	_	_
5	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	traverse	traverse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	across	across	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cliff	cliff	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 | **make** | past | the climber | a slow traverse |  | the cliff |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset traverse=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The searchlight traversed the dark sky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traverse:x6:1
# text = The searchlight traversed the dark sky.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	searchlight	searchlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	traversed	traverse	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **traverse** | participle | the searchlight *not said here* | the dark sky |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme sky=Co-Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ants traverse the garden path all day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traverse:x7:1
# text = Ants traverse the garden path all day.
1	Ants	ant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	traverse	traverse	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **traverse** | present | Ants | the garden path |  |  | day |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme path=Co-Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They traversed 15 km each day for 4 days, so 60 km in total.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traverse:x8:1
# text = They traversed 15 km each day for 4 days, so 60 km in total.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	traversed	traverse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	km	km	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
12	60	60	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	km	km	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	total	total	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **traverse** | past | They | 15 km |  |  | day |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme km=Co-Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One shooting star after another traversed the sky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:traverse:x9:1
# text = One shooting star after another traversed the sky.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
2	shooting	shooting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	star	star	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
6	traversed	traverse	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **traverse** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=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 -->

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