---
title: chink — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «chink» in the school dictionary: A narrow crack or opening, as in a wall or door, that light can come through. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# chink

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** narrow crack, light, coins, chink, Sunlight, We · **What happens:** open, come through, ring, knock together, make, chink · **To what, where:** sound, coins, pocket, weak spot, offensive word, word

<!-- .vabout -->
«chink» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [chink in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/chink.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A narrow crack or opening, as in a wall or door, that light can come through.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chink:m1:1
# text = A narrow crack or opening, as in a wall or door, that light can come through.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	crack	crack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	opening	open	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	15	det	_	_
15	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
16	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
17	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
18	through	through	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	17	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **open** | gerund | a narrow crack *not said here* |  |  |  |  | as a wall or door | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **come through** | can | a narrow crack |  |  |  |  | through *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «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 -->
A light ringing sound, like coins or glasses knocking together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chink:m2:1
# text = A light ringing sound, like coins or glasses knocking together.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	ringing	ring	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
4	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	coins	coin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	glasses	glass	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	knocking	knock	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
11	together	together	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ring** | gerund | a light *not said here* | sound |  |  |  | like coins or glasses | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location sound=Theme |
| 2 | **knock together** | gerund | coins or glasses *not said here* |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make this sound: «The coins chinked in his pocket.».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chink:m3:1
# text = To make this sound: «The coins chinked in his pocket.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	coins	coin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	parataxis	_	_
9	chinked	chink	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	pocket	pocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | this sound |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **chink** *in a quote* | participle |  | the coins *not said here* |  | his pocket |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in pocket=Location |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«A chink in someone's armour» means a weak spot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chink:m4:1
# text = «A chink in someone's armour» means a weak spot.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	chink	chink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	armour	armour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	weak	weak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	spot	spot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a chink in someone's armour | a weak spot |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spot=Topic |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A very offensive word used against Chinese or East Asian people; never use it.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chink:m5:1
# text = A very offensive word used against Chinese or East Asian people; never use it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	offensive	offensive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	against	against	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Chinese	Chinese	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	East	East	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
10	Asian	Asian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
13	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a offensive word *not said here* |  |  |  | against Chinese or East Asian people | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **use** | infinitive |  | word |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sunlight came through a chink in the curtains.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chink:x1:1
# text = Sunlight came through a chink in the curtains.
1	Sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	chink	chink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	curtains	curtain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | Sunlight |  |  | a chink |  | in the curtains | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through chink=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coins chinked in the money box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chink:x2:1
# text = The coins chinked in the money box.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coins	coin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	chinked	chink	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chink** | participle |  | the coins *not said here* |  | the money box |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in box=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We peeped through a chink in the fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chink:x3:1
# text = We peeped through a chink in the fence.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	peeped	peep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	chink	chink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	fence	fence	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 | **peep** | past | We |  |  |  |  | in the fence; through a chink | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent through chink=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The glasses chinked as they clinked them together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chink:x4:1
# text = The glasses chinked as they clinked them together.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	glasses	glass	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	chinked	chink	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	clinked	clink	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	together	together	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chink** | participle | the glasses |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **clink** | past | glasses *= glass* | them *= they* |  |  |  | together *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location they=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His only chink in the armour is his weak left foot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chink:x5:1
# text = His only chink in the armour is his weak left foot.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	only	only	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	chink	chink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	armour	armour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
9	weak	weak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	left	left	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | His only chink in the armour | his weak left foot |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a chink of light under the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chink:x6:1
# text = There was a chink of light under the door.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	chink	chink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	under	under	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a chink of light under the door |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He hid himself behind the door of the bath, and peeped through a chink.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chink:x7:1
# text = He hid himself behind the door of the bath, and peeped through a chink.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	2	obj	_	_
4	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bath	bath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	peeped	peep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
13	through	through	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	chink	chink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | past | He | himself *= he* |  | the door of the bath |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent himself=Patient behind door=Location |
| 2 | **peep** | participle | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | through a chink | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent through chink=Theme |

<!-- 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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