---
title: albatross — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «albatross» in the school dictionary: An albatross is a very large seabird with long narrow wings that can glide over the ocean for a long time. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# albatross

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** albatross, long narrow wings, you, Plastic, old debt, Albatrosses · **What happens:** be, glide, burden, not escape, flap, have · **To what, where:** large seabird, ocean, problem, wingspan, three metres, Albatrosses

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An albatross is a very large seabird with long narrow wings that can glide over the ocean for a long time.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:albatross:m1:1
# text = An albatross is a very large seabird with long narrow wings that can glide over the ocean for a long time.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	albatross	albatross	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	seabird	seabird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
13	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	glide	glide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	acl:relcl	_	_
15	over	over	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	ocean	ocean	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a albatross | a large seabird |  |  |  | with long narrow wings | tree rules |
| 2 | **glide** | can | long narrow wings |  |  | the ocean | time |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over ocean=Trajectory |

<!-- .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 -->
An albatross (around your neck) is a problem or burden you cannot escape.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:albatross:m2:1
# text = An albatross (around your neck) is a problem or burden you cannot escape.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	albatross	albatross	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	around	around	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	burden	burden	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
14	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	escape	escape	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a albatross | a problem |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **burden** | infinitive | a albatross *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn equip-13.4.2-1-1 «NP.theme V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **escape** | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The albatross can glide for hours without flapping.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:albatross:x1:1
# text = The albatross can glide for hours without flapping.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	albatross	albatross	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	glide	glide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	flapping	flap	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **glide** | can | the albatross |  |  |  | hour |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **flap** | gerund | the albatross *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An albatross has a wingspan over three metres.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:albatross:x2:1
# text = An albatross has a wingspan over three metres.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	albatross	albatross	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	wingspan	wingspan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	metres	metre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a albatross | a wingspan |  | three metres |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wingspan=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Albatrosses are found near New Zealand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:albatross:x3:1
# text = Albatrosses are found near New Zealand.
1	Albatrosses	albatrosse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	near	near	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	flat	_	_
6	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | present · passive |  | Albatrosses |  | New Zealand |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plastic in the sea harms albatrosses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:albatross:x4:1
# text = Plastic in the sea harms albatrosses.
1	Plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	harms	harm	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	albatrosses	albatrosse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **harm** | present | Plastic in the sea | albatrosses |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus albatrosse=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That old debt is an albatross around his neck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:albatross:x5:1
# text = That old debt is an albatross around his neck.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	debt	debt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	albatross	albatross	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	around	around	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	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | that old debt | a albatross |  | his neck |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Albatrosses spend most of their lives at sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:albatross:x6:1
# text = Albatrosses spend most of their lives at sea.
1	Albatrosses	albatrosse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spend	spend	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	lives	life	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	sea	sea	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 | **spend** | present | Albatrosses | most of Albatrosses's lives |  | sea |  |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent most=Asset |

<!-- 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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