---
title: dabchick — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dabchick» in the school dictionary: A small water bird, also called the little grebe, which dives under water to catch small fish and insects and often swims with only its head showing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dabchick

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small water bird, little grebe, dabchick, Dabchicks, We · **What happens:** call, dive, catch, swim, show, use · **To what, where:** little grebe, water, small fish, Old name, dabchick, reeds · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small water bird, also called the little grebe, which dives under water to catch small fish and insects and often swims with only its head showing.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabchick:m1:1
# text = A small water bird, also called the little grebe, which dives under water to catch small fish and insects and often swims with only its head showing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	grebe	grebe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	dives	dive	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
14	under	under	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
18	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	often	often	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
24	swims	swim	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
25	with	with	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
26	only	only	ADV	RB	_	28	advmod	_	_
27	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	28	nmod:poss	_	_
28	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obl	_	_
29	showing	show	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	24	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle | a small water bird *not said here* | the little grebe |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **dive** | present | the little grebe |  |  | water |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent under water=Location |
| 3 | **catch** | to-infinitive | the little grebe *not said here* | small fish and insects |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Theme |
| 4 | **swim** | present | the little grebe *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with water's head; often *property* | vn swarm-47.5.1-1 «PP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with head=Theme |
| 5 | **show** | gerund | the little grebe *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Old name used for some other small grebes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabchick:m2:1
# text = Old name used for some other small grebes.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
6	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	grebes	grebe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | Old name *not said here* |  |  |  | for some other small grebes | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dabchick bobbed up near the reeds and dived again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabchick:x1:1
# text = A dabchick bobbed up near the reeds and dived again.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dabchick	dabchick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	bobbed	bob	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	near	near	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	reeds	reed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	dived	dive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	again	again	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bob up** | participle |  | a dabchick *not said here* |  | the reeds |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme near reed=Location |
| 2 | **dive** | past | a dabchick |  |  |  | again |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little grebe is often called a dabchick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabchick:x2:1
# text = The little grebe is often called a dabchick.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	grebe	grebe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
5	often	often	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	dabchick	dabchick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | the little grebe |  |  |  | often *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dabchicks build floating nests of weed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabchick:x3:1
# text = Dabchicks build floating nests of weed.
1	Dabchicks	dabchick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	build	build	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	floating	float	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
4	nests	nest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	weed	weed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | present | Dabchicks | floating nests of weed |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset nest=Product |
| 2 | **float** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched a dabchick diving for tiny fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabchick:x4:1
# text = We watched a dabchick diving for tiny fish.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	dabchick	dabchick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	diving	dive	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We | a dabchick |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dabchick=Theme |
| 2 | **dive** | gerund | a dabchick *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for tiny fish | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for fish=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dabchick vanished under the water in a flash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabchick:x5:1
# text = The dabchick vanished under the water in a flash.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dabchick	dabchick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	vanished	vanish	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	flash	flash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **vanish** | past | the dabchick |  |  | the water |  | in a flash | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Two dabchicks trilled loudly on the pond.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabchick:x6:1
# text = Two dabchicks trilled loudly on the pond.
1	Two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	dabchicks	dabchick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	trilled	trill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	loudly	loudly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pond	pond	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 | **trill** | participle |  | Two dabchicks *not said here* |  | the pond |  | loudly *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on pond=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.

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