---
title: blubber — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «blubber» in the school dictionary: Blubber is the thick layer of fat under the skin of whales, seals and penguins that keeps them warm in cold water. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# blubber

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Blubber, that, Seals, blubber glove experiment, fat, Our · **What happens:** be, keep, blubber, use, have, show · **To what, where:** thick layer, skin, penguins, Blubber, thick blubber, icy seas · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Blubber is the thick layer of fat under the skin of whales, seals and penguins that keeps them warm in cold water.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blubber:m1:1
# text = Blubber is the thick layer of fat under the skin of whales, seals and penguins that keeps them warm in cold water.
1	Blubber	blubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	fat	fat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	under	under	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	seals	seal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	penguins	penguin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
19	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	_
20	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	xcomp	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Blubber | the thick layer |  | the skin of whales and seals and penguins |  | of fat | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | present | that | penguins *= penguin* |  |  |  | warm *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To blubber is to cry noisily, often with tears and sobs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blubber:m2:1
# text = To blubber is to cry noisily, often with tears and sobs.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	blubber	blubber	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	cry	cry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	noisily	noisily	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	tears	tear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	sobs	sob	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blubber** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **be** *speech: express* | present |  |  |  |  |  | with tears and sobs; cry, noisily *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, rude — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Blubber is sometimes used unkindly about fat on a person.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blubber:m3:1
# text = Blubber is sometimes used unkindly about fat on a person.
1	Blubber	blubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	4	advmod	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	unkindly	unkindly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	fat	fat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Blubber |  |  |  | about fat on a person; sometimes, unkindly *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Seals have thick blubber to keep warm in icy seas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blubber:x1:1
# text = Seals have thick blubber to keep warm in icy seas.
1	Seals	seal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	blubber	blubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	icy	icy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	seas	sea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Seals | thick blubber |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent blubber=Patient |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | Seals *not said here* |  |  | icy seas |  | warm *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent in sea=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A whale's blubber can be 30 centimetres thick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blubber:x2:1
# text = A whale's blubber can be 30 centimetres thick.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	blubber	blubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
7	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	centimetres	centimetre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | a whale's blubber |  |  |  |  | 30 centimetres *obl:unmarked*; thick *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our blubber glove experiment showed that fat keeps out the cold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blubber:x3:1
# text = Our blubber glove experiment showed that fat keeps out the cold.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	blubber	blubber	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	glove	glove	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	fat	fat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	out	out	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	cold	cold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | Our blubber glove experiment |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **keep out** | present | fat | the cold |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cold=Theme |
| 3 | **experiment** |  | Our |  |  |  |  |  | nom experiment «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Long ago, whalers boiled blubber to make lamp oil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blubber:x4:1
# text = Long ago, whalers boiled blubber to make lamp oil.
1	Long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
2	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	whalers	whaler	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
5	boiled	boil	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	blubber	blubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
9	lamp	lamp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	oil	oil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **boil** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | lamp oil |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset oil=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Polar bears eat seal blubber for energy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blubber:x5:1
# text = Polar bears eat seal blubber for energy.
1	Polar	polar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	bears	bear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	seal	seal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	blubber	blubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	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 | **eat** | present | Polar bears | seal blubber |  |  |  | for energy | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent blubber=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(informal) Stop blubbering — it's only a scratch!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blubber:x6:1
# text = (informal) Stop blubbering — it's only a scratch!
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Stop	stop	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	blubbering	blubber	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	only	only	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	scratch	scratch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | present | informal |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **blubber** | gerund | informal *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | present | it | a scratch |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little boy blubbered when he lost his teddy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blubber:x7:1
# text = The little boy blubbered when he lost his teddy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	blubbered	blubber	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	teddy	teddy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blubber** | past | the little boy |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **lose** | past | boy | boy's teddy |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent teddy=Eventuality |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He had no time to change his mind, for Kotick’s head was out and his teeth sunk in the blubber of the young seal’s neck.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blubber:x8:1
# text = He had no time to change his mind, for Kotick’s head was out and his teeth sunk in the blubber of the young seal’s neck.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
11	Kotick	Kotick	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	’s	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
14	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	out	out	ADV	RB	_	2	parataxis	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	_
19	sunk	sink	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	18	acl	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	blubber	blubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
23	of	of	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
25	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
26	seal	seal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	’s	's	PART	POS	_	26	case	_	_
28	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | He |  |  |  | time |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **change** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | his mind |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mind=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | past | Kotick's head |  |  |  |  | out *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **sink** | participle |  | Kotick's teeth *not said here* |  | the blubber of the young seal's neck |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 5 | **mind** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [blub](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/blub/)
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- ↑ back to [B in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/)