---
title: avalanche — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «avalanche» in the school dictionary: An avalanche is a huge mass of snow, ice and rocks that suddenly slides fast down a mountain. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# avalanche

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** avalanche, huge mass, something, letters, Skiers, Rescue dogs · **What happens:** be, slide, avalanche, bury, check, find · **To what, where:** huge mass, mountain, sudden large amount, mountain road, avalanche warning, climber

<!-- .vabout -->
«avalanche» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [avalanche in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/avalanche.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An avalanche is a huge mass of snow, ice and rocks that suddenly slides fast down a mountain.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avalanche:m1:1
# text = An avalanche is a huge mass of snow, ice and rocks that suddenly slides fast down a mountain.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	avalanche	avalanche	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	mass	mass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
14	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	slides	slide	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
16	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	15	advmod	_	_
17	down	down	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a avalanche | a huge mass |  |  |  | of snow | tree rules |
| 2 | **slide** | present | a huge mass |  |  | a mountain |  | fast, suddenly *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme down mountain=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An avalanche of something is a sudden very large amount of it, as in an avalanche of letters.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avalanche:m2:1
# text = An avalanche of something is a sudden very large amount of it, as in an avalanche of letters.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	avalanche	avalanche	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
7	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	avalanche	avalanche	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	parataxis	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a avalanche of something | a sudden large amount |  |  |  | of amount | tree rules |
| 2 | **avalanche** |  | something |  |  |  |  |  | nom avalanche «event intransitive»: of=agent |
| 3 | **avalanche** |  | letters |  |  |  |  |  | nom avalanche «event intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An avalanche buried the mountain road.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avalanche:x1:1
# text = An avalanche buried the mountain road.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	avalanche	avalanche	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	buried	bury	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bury** | past | a avalanche | the mountain road |  |  |  |  | vn put-9.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent road=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Skiers must check the avalanche warning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avalanche:x2:1
# text = Skiers must check the avalanche warning.
1	Skiers	skier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	check	check	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	avalanche	avalanche	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	warning	warning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | must | Skiers | the avalanche warning |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent warning=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rescue dogs found the climber after the avalanche.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avalanche:x3:1
# text = Rescue dogs found the climber after the avalanche.
1	Rescue	rescue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	climber	climber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	avalanche	avalanche	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 | **find** | past | Rescue dogs | the climber |  |  | after the avalanche |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent climber=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Loud noises do not usually start avalanches, despite the films.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avalanche:x4:1
# text = Loud noises do not usually start avalanches, despite the films.
1	Loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	noises	noise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
5	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	avalanches	avalanche	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	despite	despite	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	films	film	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **start** | present · do-support | Loud noises | avalanches and the films |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent avalanche=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We got an avalanche of birthday cards.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avalanche:x5:1
# text = We got an avalanche of birthday cards.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	avalanche	avalanche	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	cards	card	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | We | a avalanche of birthday cards |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer avalanche=Stimulus |
| 2 | **avalanche** |  | birthday cards |  |  |  |  |  | nom avalanche «event intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher faced an avalanche of questions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avalanche:x6:1
# text = The teacher faced an avalanche of questions.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	faced	face	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	avalanche	avalanche	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **face** | past | the teacher | a avalanche of questions |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent avalanche=Destination |
| 2 | **avalanche** |  | questions |  |  |  |  |  | nom avalanche «event intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An avalanche had fallen, not upon Rudy and his uncle, but very near them.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avalanche:x7:1
# text = An avalanche had fallen, not upon Rudy and his uncle, but very near them.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	avalanche	avalanche	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	fallen	fall	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Rudy	Rudy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	uncle	uncle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	very	very	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	near	near	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | past · perfect | a avalanche |  |  | Rudy and avalanche's uncle |  | near Rudy | vn occur-48.3 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme upon rudy=Location |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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