---
title: ziggurat — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ziggurat» in the school dictionary: A very large ancient tower built in steps, getting smaller towards the top, with a temple on the highest level. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ziggurat

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** large ancient tower, peoples, building, ziggurat, We, Ziggurats · **What happens:** build, get, rise, have, not be, climb · **To what, where:** large ancient tower, Ziggurats, ancient Mesopotamia, Great Ziggurat, temple, top

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A very large ancient tower built in steps, getting smaller towards the top, with a temple on the highest level.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ziggurat:m1:1
# text = A very large ancient tower built in steps, getting smaller towards the top, with a temple on the highest level.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
11	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	xcomp	_	_
12	towards	towards	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	temple	temple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
19	on	on	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	highest	high	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	22	amod	_	_
22	level	level	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | participle |  | a large ancient tower *not said here* |  |  |  | in steps | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.patient V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient in step=Attribute |
| 2 | **get** | gerund | a large ancient tower *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with a temple on the highest level; small *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
Ziggurats were built in ancient Mesopotamia (now mostly Iraq) by peoples such as the Sumerians and Babylonians.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ziggurat:m2:1
# text = Ziggurats were built in ancient Mesopotamia (now mostly Iraq) by peoples such as the Sumerians and Babylonians.
1	Ziggurats	ziggurat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	Mesopotamia	Mesopotamia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	10	advmod	_	_
9	mostly	mostly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	Iraq	Iraq	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	_
12	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	peoples	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
14	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	17	case	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	fixed	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	Sumerians	Sumerian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	13	nmod	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	Babylonians	Babylonian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past · passive | peoples such the Sumerians and Babylonians | Ziggurats |  | ancient Mesopotamia |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Any building that rises in flat steps like this.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ziggurat:m3:1
# text = Any building that rises in flat steps like this.
1	Any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	rises	rise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise** | present | any building |  |  |  |  | in flat steps like this | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in step=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Great Ziggurat of Ur was built of mud bricks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ziggurat:x1:1
# text = The Great Ziggurat of Ur was built of mud bricks.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Ziggurat	Ziggurat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Ur	Ur	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	bricks	brick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past · passive |  | the Great Ziggurat of Ur |  |  |  | of mud bricks | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A ziggurat had a temple at the very top.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ziggurat:x2:1
# text = A ziggurat had a temple at the very top.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ziggurat	ziggurat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	temple	temple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We built a ziggurat out of Lego blocks, each layer smaller.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ziggurat:x3:1
# text = We built a ziggurat out of Lego blocks, each layer smaller.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	built	build	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	ziggurat	ziggurat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	Lego	Lego	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	blocks	block	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
12	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | We | a ziggurat |  | Lego blocks and each layer |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ziggurat=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ziggurats are not the same as Egyptian pyramids.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ziggurat:x4:1
# text = Ziggurats are not the same as Egyptian pyramids.
1	Ziggurats	ziggurat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	Egyptian	Egyptian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	pyramids	pyramid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | Ziggurats |  |  |  |  | as Egyptian pyramids; same *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Priests climbed the steps of the ziggurat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ziggurat:x5:1
# text = Priests climbed the steps of the ziggurat.
1	Priests	priest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	climbed	climb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ziggurat	ziggurat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb** | past | Priests | the steps of the ziggurat |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location step=Theme |
| 2 | **step** |  |  | the ziggurat |  |  |  |  | nom step «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hotel was shaped like a ziggurat, with gardens on each step.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ziggurat:x6:1
# text = The hotel was shaped like a ziggurat, with gardens on each step.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hotel	hotel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ziggurat	ziggurat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	gardens	garden	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	13	det	_	_
13	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | past · passive |  | the hotel |  |  |  | like a ziggurat; with gardens on each step | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

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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.

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