---
title: washboard — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «washboard» in the school dictionary: A board with ridges on it, once used for scrubbing clothes when washing them by hand. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# washboard

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** grandma, Toad, skiffle band, museum, dirt road, He · **What happens:** use, scrub, wash, play, scrape, call · **To what, where:** board, clothes, washboard, instrument, skiffle, bumpy dirt road · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A board with ridges on it, once used for scrubbing clothes when washing them by hand.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washboard:m1:1
# text = A board with ridges on it, once used for scrubbing clothes when washing them by hand.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	board	board	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	ridges	ridge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	9	advmod	_	_
9	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
10	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	scrubbing	scrub	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
12	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	11	obj	_	_
13	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	14	mark	_	_
14	washing	wash	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	_
15	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	by	by	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a board with ridges on board *not said here* |  |  |  | once *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **scrub** | gerund |  | clothes |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent clothes=Source |
| 3 | **wash** | gerund |  | clothes |  |  |  | by hand | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A washboard used as a musical instrument, played by scraping it, in skiffle and folk music.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washboard:m2:1
# text = A washboard used as a musical instrument, played by scraping it, in skiffle and folk music.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	washboard	washboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	musical	musical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	instrument	instrument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	played	play	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
10	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	scraping	scrape	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	advcl	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	skiffle	skiffle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	folk	folk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a washboard *not said here* |  |  |  | as a musical instrument | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **play** | participle |  | a washboard *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **scrape** | gerund |  | instrument |  | skiffle and folk music |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent it=Theme in skiffle=Trajectory |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Washboard stomach: very flat, strong stomach muscles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washboard:m3:1
# text = Washboard stomach: very flat, strong stomach muscles.
1	Washboard	washboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	stomach	stomach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	stomach	stomach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	muscles	muscle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bumpy dirt road with ridges is called washboard road (North America).

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washboard:m4:1
# text = A bumpy dirt road with ridges is called washboard road (North America).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	bumpy	bumpy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	dirt	dirt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	ridges	ridge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	washboard	washboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	xcomp	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	North	North	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | a bumpy dirt road with ridges |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma's grandma scrubbed shirts on a washboard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washboard:x1:1
# text = Grandma's grandma scrubbed shirts on a washboard.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	scrubbed	scrub	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	shirts	shirt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	washboard	washboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scrub** | past | Grandma's grandma | shirts |  | a washboard |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent shirt=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad tried to wash the clothes but splashed everywhere.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washboard:x2:1
# text = Toad tried to wash the clothes but splashed everywhere.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	wash	wash	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	4	obj	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	splashed	splash	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	everywhere	everywhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | Toad |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **wash** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Toad *not said here* | the clothes |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clothes=Patient |
| 3 | **splash** | past | Toad *not said here* |  |  |  |  | everywhere *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The skiffle band had a guitar and a washboard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washboard:x3:1
# text = The skiffle band had a guitar and a washboard.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	skiffle	skiffle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	guitar	guitar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	washboard	washboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the skiffle band | a guitar and a washboard |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent guitar=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The museum had an old tin washboard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washboard:x4:1
# text = The museum had an old tin washboard.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	tin	tin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	washboard	washboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the museum | a old tin washboard |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent washboard=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dirt road was like a washboard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washboard:x5:1
# text = The dirt road was like a washboard.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	dirt	dirt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	washboard	washboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He scraped the washboard with thimbles on his fingers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washboard:x6:1
# text = He scraped the washboard with thimbles on his fingers.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	scraped	scrape	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	washboard	washboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	thimbles	thimble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scrape** | past | He | the washboard |  | his fingers |  | with thimbles | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent washboard=Patient with thimble=Instrument |

<!-- 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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