---
title: treadwheel — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «treadwheel» in the school dictionary: A large wheel turned by people or animals walking on steps or boards inside or around it, used in the past to grind corn or pump water. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# treadwheel

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, prisoners, Boring tiring work, treadwheel, Working, We · **What happens:** turn, walk, use, grind, pump, have · **To what, where:** large wheel, past, corn, water, wheel, treadwheel

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A large wheel turned by people or animals walking on steps or boards inside or around it, used in the past to grind corn or pump water.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:treadwheel:m1:1
# text = A large wheel turned by people or animals walking on steps or boards inside or around it, used in the past to grind corn or pump water.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	wheel	wheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	turned	turn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
9	walking	walk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	boards	board	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	_
14	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	around	around	ADP	IN	_	14	conj	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
23	to	to	PART	TO	_	24	mark	_	_
24	grind	grind	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	advcl	_	_
25	corn	corn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	_
26	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	pump	pump	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	conj	_	_
28	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	19	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | participle |  | a large wheel *not said here* |  |  |  | by people or animals | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme by people=Trajectory |
| 2 | **walk** | gerund | people or animals *not said here* |  |  |  |  | on steps or boards; inside *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on step=Trajectory |
| 3 | **use** | participle · passive |  | a large wheel |  | the past |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 4 | **grind** | to-infinitive |  | corn |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent corn=Patient |
| 5 | **pump** | infinitive |  | water |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent water=Theme |

<!-- .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 punishment in Victorian prisons where prisoners had to walk on such a wheel for hours.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:treadwheel:m2:1
# text = A punishment in Victorian prisons where prisoners had to walk on such a wheel for hours.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	Victorian	victorian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	prisons	prison	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	advmod	_	_
7	prisoners	prisoner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	walk	walk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	14	det:predet	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	wheel	wheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | prisoners |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **walk** | to-infinitive | prisoners *not said here* |  |  | such wheel | hour |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on wheel=Trajectory |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: figurative, like «treadmill» — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Boring, tiring work that never seems to end.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:treadwheel:m3:1
# text = Boring, tiring work that never seems to end.
1	Boring	boring	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	tiring	tiring	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	end	end	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **seem** | present | Boring tiring work |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **end** | to-infinitive | Boring tiring work *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Prisoners in Victorian gaols had to walk on the treadwheel for hours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:treadwheel:x1:1
# text = Prisoners in Victorian gaols had to walk on the treadwheel for hours.
1	Prisoners	prisoner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	Victorian	victorian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	gaols	gaol	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	walk	walk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	treadwheel	treadwheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Prisoners in Victorian gaols |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **walk** | to-infinitive | Prisoners in Victorian gaols *not said here* |  |  | the treadwheel | hour |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on treadwheel=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The treadwheel turned the millstones to grind corn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:treadwheel:x2:1
# text = The treadwheel turned the millstones to grind corn.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	treadwheel	treadwheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	millstones	millstone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	grind	grind	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	corn	corn	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 | **turn** | past | the treadwheel | the millstones |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent millstone=Theme |
| 2 | **grind** | to-infinitive | the treadwheel *not said here* | corn |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent corn=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A donkey walked inside the treadwheel to lift water from the well.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:treadwheel:x3:1
# text = A donkey walked inside the treadwheel to lift water from the well.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	walked	walk	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	acl	_	_
4	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	treadwheel	treadwheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	lift	lift	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	well	well	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | participle |  | a donkey *not said here* |  | the treadwheel |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme inside treadwheel=Trajectory |
| 2 | **lift** | to-infinitive |  | water |  | the well |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent water=Theme from well=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Working in that factory felt like being on a treadwheel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:treadwheel:x4:1
# text = Working in that factory felt like being on a treadwheel.
1	Working	work	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	factory	factory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	cop	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	treadwheel	treadwheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | in that factory | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in factory=Theme |
| 2 | **feel** | past | Working |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | like a treadwheel | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a picture of an old prison treadwheel in our history book.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:treadwheel:x5:1
# text = We saw a picture of an old prison treadwheel in our history book.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	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	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	prison	prison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	treadwheel	treadwheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
12	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a picture of a old prison treadwheel in our history book |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer picture=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The treadwheel was a cruel and pointless punishment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:treadwheel:x6:1
# text = The treadwheel was a cruel and pointless punishment.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	treadwheel	treadwheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	pointless	pointless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the treadwheel | a cruel punishment |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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