---
title: unpick — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unpick» in the school dictionary: To unpick is to take out the stitches of sewing or knitting carefully, one by one. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unpick

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** I, you, Nan, 's, detective, It · **What happens:** unpick, be, take apart, understand, undo, sew · **To what, where:** problem, argument, it, seam, seam ripper, stitches · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To unpick is to take out the stitches of sewing or knitting carefully, one by one.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpick:m1:1
# text = To unpick is to take out the stitches of sewing or knitting carefully, one by one.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	unpick	unpick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stitches	stitch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	sewing	sewing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	knitting	knitting	NOUN	NN	_	8	conj	_	_
13	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	appos	_	_
16	by	by	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unpick** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | take *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: figurative — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To take apart a problem, plan or argument carefully to understand it or undo it.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpick:m2:1
# text = To take apart a problem, plan or argument carefully to understand it or undo it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	apart	apart	ADV	RB	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
10	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	undo	undo	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take apart** | to-infinitive |  | a problem and plan or argument |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Theme |
| 2 | **understand** | to-infinitive |  | argument |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |
| 3 | **undo** | infinitive |  | argument |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I sewed it wrong, so I had to unpick the seam.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpick:x1:1
# text = I sewed it wrong, so I had to unpick the seam.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sewed	sew	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	unpick	unpick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	seam	seam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sew** | past | I | it |  |  |  | wrong *property* | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Product |
| 2 | **have** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **unpick** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | the seam |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use the seam ripper to unpick the stitches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpick:x2:1
# text = Use the seam ripper to unpick the stitches.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	seam	seam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	ripper	ripper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	unpick	unpick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stitches	stitch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | the seam ripper |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ripper=Patient |
| 2 | **unpick** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the stitches |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nan unpicked the old jumper to reuse the wool.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpick:x3:1
# text = Nan unpicked the old jumper to reuse the wool.
1	Nan	Nan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	unpicked	unpick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	jumper	jumper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	reuse	reuse	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	wool	wool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unpick** | past | Nan | the old jumper |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **reuse** | to-infinitive | Nan *not said here* | the wool |  |  |  |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wool=Asset |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let's unpick this word problem step by step.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpick:x4:1
# text = Let's unpick this word problem step by step.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	unpick	unpick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
5	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **unpick** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | this problem step |  |  |  | by step | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective unpicked the story bit by bit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpick:x5:1
# text = The detective unpicked the story bit by bit.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	unpicked	unpick	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	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unpick** | past | the detective | the story bit |  |  |  | by bit | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It took an hour to unpick the knots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpick:x6:1
# text = It took an hour to unpick the knots.
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	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	unpick	unpick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	knots	knot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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 |  |  |  | hour |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **unpick** | to-infinitive |  | the knots |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"All the embroidery is unpicked," said the Princess, sighing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpick:x7:1
# text = "All the embroidery is unpicked," said the Princess, sighing.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	All	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	4	det:predet	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	embroidery	embroidery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	unpicked	unpick	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Princess	Princess	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	sighing	sigh	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unpick** *in a quote* | present · passive |  | all embroidery |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the Princess |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **sigh** | gerund | the Princess *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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