---
title: flap — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flap» in the school dictionary: To flap is to move up and down or from side to side quickly, like a bird's wings or a flag in the wind. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flap

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** flap, that, bird, flag, you, cat · **What happens:** flap, be, fix, cover, not get, fly away · **To what, where:** flat piece, other material, opening, state, flap, wings · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To flap is to move up and down or from side to side quickly, like a bird's wings or a flag in the wind.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flap:m1:1
# text = To flap is to move up and down or from side to side quickly, like a bird's wings or a flag in the wind.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	flap	flap	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	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	up	up	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	down	down	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
14	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	's	's	PART	POS	_	18	case	_	_
20	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	flag	flag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	_
24	in	in	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flap** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | like a bird's wings in the wind or a flag; down, move, quickly *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 flap is a flat piece of paper, cloth or other material fixed along one side, that covers an opening, like the flap of an envelope or a cat flap.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flap:m2:1
# text = A flap is a flat piece of paper, cloth or other material fixed along one side, that covers an opening, like the flap of an envelope or a cat flap.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flap	flap	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	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
14	fixed	fix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	acl	_	_
15	along	along	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	17	nummod	_	_
17	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
20	covers	cover	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
21	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	opening	opening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
24	like	like	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	flap	flap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	_
27	of	of	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	envelope	envelope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nmod	_	_
30	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	33	cc	_	_
31	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	33	det	_	_
32	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	33	compound	_	_
33	flap	flap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a flap | a flat piece and cloth or other material |  |  |  | of paper | tree rules |
| 2 | **fix** | participle |  | other material *not said here* |  |  |  | along one side | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **cover** | present | that | a opening |  |  |  | like the flap of a envelope or a cat flap | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme opening=Destination |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Informally, a flap is a state of worry and fuss: «Don't get in a flap».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flap:m3:1
# text = Informally, a flap is a state of worry and fuss: «Don't get in a flap».
1	Informally	informally	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	flap	flap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	worry	worry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	fuss	fuss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	flap	flap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** *speech: other* | present | a flap | a state |  |  |  | of worry and fuss | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **get** *in a quote* | infinitive · do-support |  |  |  | a flap |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bird flapped its wings and flew away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flap:x1:1
# text = The bird flapped its wings and flew away.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	flapped	flap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	away	away	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flap** | past | the bird | bird's wings |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wing=Patient |
| 2 | **fly away** | past | the bird *not said here* |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flag flapped in the wind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flap:x2:1
# text = The flag flapped in the wind.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flag	flag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	flapped	flap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flap** | past | the flag |  |  | the wind |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in wind=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lick the flap and seal the envelope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flap:x3:1
# text = Lick the flap and seal the envelope.
1	Lick	lick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	flap	flap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	seal	seal	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	envelope	envelope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lick** | imperative | you *not said here* | the flap |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent flap=Theme |
| 2 | **seal** | infinitive | you *not said here* | the envelope |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent envelope=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our cat comes in through the cat flap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flap:x4:1
# text = Our cat comes in through the cat flap.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	through	through	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	flap	flap	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 | **come in** | present | Our cat |  |  | the cat flap |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through flap=Initial\_Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother loves lift-the-flap books.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flap:x5:1
# text = My little brother loves lift-the-flap books.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	loves	love	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	lift	lift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	flap	flap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | My little brother | lift and the flap books |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer lift=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't get in a flap; we have plenty of time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flap:x6:1
# text = Don't get in a flap; we have plenty of time.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	flap	flap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	plenty	plenty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **get** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  | a flap |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **have** | present | we | plenty of time |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plenty=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tent flap blew open in the night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flap:x7:1
# text = The tent flap blew open in the night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tent	tent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	flap	flap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	blew	blow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blow** | past | the tent flap |  |  |  | night | open *property* | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Quietly he lifted the door-flap and entered in.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flap:x8:1
# text = Quietly he lifted the door-flap and entered in.
1	Quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lifted	lift	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	flap	flap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	entered	enter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	in	in	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lift** | past | he | the door flap |  |  |  | quietly *property* | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flap=Theme |
| 2 | **enter** | past | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-2 «NP V»: agent=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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