---
title: estuary — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «estuary» in the school dictionary: An estuary is the wide part of a river where it meets the sea, so fresh water and salty sea water mix. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# estuary

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** estuary, Estuary English, way, river, Lots, Estuary water · **What happens:** be, meet, speak, widen, reach, wade · **To what, where:** wide part, sea, way, estuary, mix, low tide · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An estuary is the wide part of a river where it meets the sea, so fresh water and salty sea water mix.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:estuary:m1:1
# text = An estuary is the wide part of a river where it meets the sea, so fresh water and salty sea water mix.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	estuary	estuary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	12	advmod	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	meets	meet	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	so	so	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	fresh	fresh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
20	salty	salty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
21	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	mix	mix	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a estuary | the wide part and fresh water and salty water mix |  |  |  | of a river | tree rules |
| 2 | **meet** | present | estuary | the sea |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sea=Co-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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Estuary English is a way of speaking common around London and the Thames estuary.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:estuary:m2:1
# text = Estuary English is a way of speaking common around London and the Thames estuary.
1	Estuary	Estuary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	around	around	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	London	London	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	Thames	Thames	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	estuary	estuary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Estuary English | a way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund | a way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | common *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The river widens into an estuary before it reaches the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:estuary:x1:1
# text = The river widens into an estuary before it reaches the sea.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	widens	widen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	estuary	estuary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	reaches	reach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **widen** | present | the river |  |  | a estuary |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **reach** | present | river | the sea |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent sea=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lots of wading birds feed on the mud in the estuary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:estuary:x2:1
# text = Lots of wading birds feed on the mud in the estuary.
1	Lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	wading	wade	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
4	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	feed	feed	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	estuary	estuary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wade** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **feed** | present | Lots of wading birds |  |  |  |  | in the estuary; on the mud | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent on mud=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Estuary water is a mix of fresh water and salt water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:estuary:x3:1
# text = Estuary water is a mix of fresh water and salt water.
1	Estuary	Estuary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	mix	mix	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	fresh	fresh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Estuary water | a mix |  |  |  | of fresh water and salt water | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At low tide the estuary turns into mud flats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:estuary:x4:1
# text = At low tide the estuary turns into mud flats.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tide	tide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	estuary	estuary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	flats	flat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | the estuary |  |  | low tide |  | into mud flats | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V PP.source PP.trajectory PP.destination»: agent=Theme at tide=Source into flat=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We went on a field trip to the estuary to look for crabs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:estuary:x5:1
# text = We went on a field trip to the estuary to look for crabs.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	estuary	estuary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	crabs	crab	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | We |  |  | a field trip to the estuary |  |  | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme on trip=Location |
| 2 | **look** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for crabs | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for crab=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Thames estuary is in the south-east of England.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:estuary:x6:1
# text = The Thames estuary is in the south-east of England.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Thames	Thames	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	estuary	estuary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	south	south	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	east	east	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	England	England	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the Thames estuary |  |  | the south east |  | of England | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ships sail up the estuary to the port.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:estuary:x7:1
# text = Ships sail up the estuary to the port.
1	Ships	ship	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sail	sail	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	estuary	estuary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	port	port	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 | **sail up** | present | Ships | the estuary |  | the port |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent estuary=Theme to port=Trajectory |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My uncle speaks Estuary English and drops his t's.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:estuary:x8:1
# text = My uncle speaks Estuary English and drops his t's.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	uncle	uncle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	speaks	speak	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Estuary	Estuary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	drops	drop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	t	t	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | My uncle | Estuary English |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **drop** | present | My uncle *not said here* | uncle's t |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent t=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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