---
title: twiddle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «twiddle» in the school dictionary: To twist, turn or play with something with your fingers, often without thinking: twiddle a knob, twiddle your hair. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# twiddle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, He, We, bus, She, Toad · **What happens:** twist, turn, play, think, twiddle, sit · **To what, where:** knob, hair, thumbs, nothing, station, pencil

<!-- .vabout -->
«twiddle» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [twiddle in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/twiddle.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To twist, turn or play with something with your fingers, often without thinking: twiddle a knob, twiddle your hair.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twiddle:m1:1
# text = To twist, turn or play with something with your fingers, often without thinking: twiddle a knob, twiddle your hair.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	twist	twist	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	play	play	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
14	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	thinking	think	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
17	twiddle	twiddle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	knob	knob	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	twiddle	twiddle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	17	conj	_	_
22	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	23	nmod:poss	_	_
23	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **twist** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **turn** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **play** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with something; with your fingers | vn play-114.2-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with something=Theme |
| 4 | **think** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **twiddle** | infinitive |  | a knob |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent knob=Patient |
| 6 | **twiddle** | infinitive |  | your hair |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hair=Patient |

<!-- .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: phrase — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«twiddle your thumbs» = to sit doing nothing, waiting, bored.

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twiddle:m2:1
# text = «twiddle your thumbs» = to sit doing nothing, waiting, bored.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	twiddle	twiddle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	thumbs	thumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	8	punct	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	sit	sit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
10	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	waiting	wait	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	bored	bored	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **twiddle** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | your thumbs |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thumb=Patient |
| 2 | **sit** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | gerund | you *not said here* | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nothing=Eventuality |
| 4 | **wait** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop twiddling your hair!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twiddle:x1:1
# text = Stop twiddling your hair!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	twiddling	twiddle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **twiddle** | gerund | you *not said here* | your hair |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hair=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He twiddled the knob to find the station.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twiddle:x2:1
# text = He twiddled the knob to find the station.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	twiddled	twiddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	knob	knob	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	station	station	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 | **twiddle** | past | He | the knob |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent knob=Patient |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the station |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent station=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We sat twiddling our thumbs while the bus was late.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twiddle:x3:1
# text = We sat twiddling our thumbs while the bus was late.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	twiddling	twiddle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	thumbs	thumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **twiddle** | gerund | We *not said here* | our thumbs |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thumb=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | past | the bus |  |  |  |  | late *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She twiddled her pencil during the test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twiddle:x4:1
# text = She twiddled her pencil during the test.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	twiddled	twiddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	during	during	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **twiddle** | past | She | her pencil |  |  | during the test |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pencil=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad twiddled his thumbs, bored with the river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twiddle:x5:1
# text = Toad twiddled his thumbs, bored with the river.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	twiddled	twiddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	thumbs	thumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	bored	bored	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **twiddle** | past | Toad | Toad's thumbs |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thumb=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Twiddle the dial to set the oven.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twiddle:x6:1
# text = Twiddle the dial to set the oven.
1	Twiddle	twiddle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	dial	dial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	set	set	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	oven	oven	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **twiddle** | imperative | you *not said here* | the dial |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dial=Patient |
| 2 | **set** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the oven |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Patient oven=Result |

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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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