---
title: zigzag — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «zigzag» in the school dictionary: A zigzag is a line that goes sharply one way and then sharply the other way, again and again, like the letter Z or W. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# zigzag

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** zigzag, line, path, you, your, Lightning · **What happens:** be, go, zigzag, turn, describe, shape · **To what, where:** line, one way, side, anything, zigzag line, top

<!-- .vabout -->
«zigzag» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [zigzag in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/zigzag.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A zigzag is a line that goes sharply one way and then sharply the other way, again and again, like the letter Z or W.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zigzag:m1:1
# text = A zigzag is a line that goes sharply one way and then sharply the other way, again and again, like the letter Z or W.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	zigzag	zigzag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	sharply	sharply	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
12	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	13	advmod	_	_
13	sharply	sharply	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	again	again	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	again	again	ADV	RB	_	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
22	like	like	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	Z	z	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
26	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	W.	W.	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	25	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a zigzag | a line |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present | a line | one way |  |  | again | sharply *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
To zigzag is to move forward by turning from side to side, again and again.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zigzag:m2:1
# text = To zigzag is to move forward by turning from side to side, again and again.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	zigzag	zigzag	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
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	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	forward	forward	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	turning	turn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	again	again	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	again	again	ADV	RB	_	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **zigzag** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | forward, move *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **turn** | gerund |  |  |  | side | again | to side *result* | vn turn-26.6.1-1 «NP V PP.material PP.result»: agent=Agent from side=Initial\_State to side=Result |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Zigzag describes anything shaped like that, such as a zigzag pattern.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zigzag:m3:1
# text = Zigzag describes anything shaped like that, such as a zigzag pattern.
1	Zigzag	zigzag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	zigzag	zigzag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | Zigzag | anything |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent anything=Theme |
| 2 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The path zigzags up the side of the mountain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zigzag:x1:1
# text = The path zigzags up the side of the mountain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	zigzags	zigzag	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **zigzag up** | present | the path | the side of the mountain |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location side=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Draw a zigzag line across the top of your page.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zigzag:x2:1
# text = Draw a zigzag line across the top of your page.
1	Draw	draw	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	zigzag	zigzag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	across	across	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	page	page	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | imperative | you *not said here* | a zigzag line |  | the top of your page |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent line=Theme |
| 2 | **page** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom page «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rabbit zigzagged across the field to get away from the fox.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zigzag:x3:1
# text = The rabbit zigzagged across the field to get away from the fox.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rabbit	rabbit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	zigzagged	zigzag	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	across	across	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	away	away	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **zigzag** | participle |  | the rabbit *not said here* |  | the field |  |  | vn meander-47.7-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across field=Location |
| 2 | **get away** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn withdraw-82-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lightning made a bright zigzag in the sky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zigzag:x4:1
# text = Lightning made a bright zigzag in the sky.
1	Lightning	lightning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	zigzag	zigzag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Lightning | a bright zigzag |  | the sky |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset zigzag=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do not park on the zigzag lines by the school crossing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zigzag:x5:1
# text = Do not park on the zigzag lines by the school crossing.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	park	park	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	zigzag	zigzag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	crossing	crossing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **park** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  | the zigzag lines |  | by the school crossing | vn put-9.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent on line=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her dress had a red and white zigzag pattern.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zigzag:x6:1
# text = Her dress had a red and white zigzag pattern.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	dress	dress	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	9	det	_	_
5	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	zigzag	zigzag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The skier zigzagged down the slope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zigzag:x7:1
# text = The skier zigzagged down the slope.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	skier	skier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	zigzagged	zigzag	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	slope	slope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **zigzag down** | participle | the skier *not said here* | the slope |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location slope=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Like a lightning flash the slender stem shot upwards in a zigzag line, the branches spreading around it like green gauze and banners.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zigzag:x8:1
# text = Like a lightning flash the slender stem shot upwards in a zigzag line, the branches spreading around it like green gauze and banners.
1	Like	like	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	lightning	lightning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	flash	flash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	slender	slender	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	stem	stem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	shot	shoot	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	upwards	upwards	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	zigzag	zigzag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	branches	branch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	appos	_	_
17	spreading	spread	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	acl	_	_
18	around	around	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obl	_	_
20	like	like	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	gauze	gauze	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	banners	banner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shoot** | past | the slender stem |  |  | a zigzag line |  | like a lightning flash; upwards *property* | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent in line=Destination |
| 2 | **spread** | gerund | the branches *not said here* |  |  | stem |  | like green gauze and banners | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme around it=Location |

<!-- 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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