---
title: washing — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «washing» in the school dictionary: Washing is cleaning something with water, often with soap. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# washing

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Washing, clothes, I, Mum, you, It · **What happens:** clean, wash, mean, need, hang out, stop · **To what, where:** something, UK, clothes, washing, hands, germs · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Washing is cleaning something with water, often with soap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washing:m1:1
# text = Washing is cleaning something with water, often with soap.
1	Washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	cleaning	clean	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	soap	soap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clean** | present · progressive | Washing | something |  |  |  | with water; with soap | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent something=Patient with water=Instrument |

<!-- .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 -->
Washing (UK, Australia, NZ, Ireland) means the clothes that need washing or have just been washed: «hang out the washing».

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washing:m2:1
# text = Washing (UK, Australia, NZ, Ireland) means the clothes that need washing or have just been washed: «hang out the washing».
1	Washing	wash	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	csubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	NZ	NZ	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
11	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	11	obj	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	_
16	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
18	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
19	just	just	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
20	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	21	aux:pass	_	_
21	washed	wash	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	24	punct	_	_
23	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	hang	hang	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	11	parataxis	_	_
25	out	out	ADP	RP	_	24	compound:prt	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | gerund |  | UK and Australia and NZ and Ireland |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent uk=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Washing | the clothes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **need** | present | the clothes | washing |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot washing=Theme |
| 4 | **wash** | present · perfect · passive | the clothes *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V» |
| 5 | **hang out** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | the washing |  |  |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent washing=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As part of the verb, washing means cleaning now: «I am washing my hands».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washing:m3:1
# text = As part of the verb, washing means cleaning now: «I am washing my hands».
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
7	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	cleaning	clean	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
10	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	washing	wash	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	parataxis	_	_
16	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | washing |  |  |  |  | as part of the verb | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **clean** *not said to happen* | gerund | washing *not said here* |  |  |  | now |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **wash** *in a quote* | present · progressive | I | my hands |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Washing your hands stops germs spreading.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washing:x1:1
# text = Washing your hands stops germs spreading.
1	Washing	wash	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	spreading	spread	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | gerund |  | your hands |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |
| 2 | **stop** | present | Washing | germs |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **spread** | gerund | Washing *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum is hanging the washing on the line.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washing:x2:1
# text = Mum is hanging the washing on the line.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	hanging	hang	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hang** | present · progressive | Mum | the washing |  | the line |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent washing=Theme on line=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put your dirty socks in the washing basket.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washing:x3:1
# text = Put your dirty socks in the washing basket.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	dirty	dirty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	socks	sock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	basket	basket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | your dirty socks |  | the washing basket |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent sock=Theme in basket=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I am washing the car with Dad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washing:x4:1
# text = I am washing the car with Dad.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	washing	wash	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | present · progressive | I | the car |  |  |  | with Dad | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent car=Patient with dad=Instrument |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's my turn to do the washing-up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washing:x5:1
# text = It's my turn to do the washing-up.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	turn	turn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | my turn |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | the washing up |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent up=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The washing machine is very noisy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washing:x6:1
# text = The washing machine is very noisy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	noisy	noisy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the washing machine |  |  |  |  | noisy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bring the washing in — it's raining!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washing:x7:1
# text = Bring the washing in — it's raining!
1	Bring	bring	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	raining	rain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bring in** | imperative | you *not said here* | the washing |  |  |  |  | vn earn-54.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme washing=Asset |
| 2 | **rain** | present · progressive | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We were washing paint off our brushes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washing:x8:1
# text = We were washing paint off our brushes.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	washing	wash	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	off	off	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	brushes	brush	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | past · progressive | We | paint |  | our brushes |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent paint=Theme off brush=Source |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Aunt Em was washing the dishes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washing:x9:1
# text = Aunt Em was washing the dishes.
1	Aunt	aunt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	Em	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	washing	wash	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	acl:relcl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dishes	dish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | past · progressive | Em *= they* | the dishes |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dish=Patient |

<!-- 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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