---
title: flapping — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flapping» in the school dictionary: Flapping means moving wings or arms up and down quickly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flapping

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Flapping, bird, flag, tent door, Ducks, you · **What happens:** mean, move, flap, be, take off, keep · **To what, where:** wings, informal, flap, strong wind, pond, keys · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flapping means moving wings or arms up and down quickly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flapping:m1:1
# text = Flapping means moving wings or arms up and down quickly.
1	Flapping	flapping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	up	up	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	down	down	ADV	RB	_	7	conj	_	_
10	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Flapping |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **move** *not said to happen* | gerund | Flapping *not said here* | wings or arms |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent wing=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 -->
Flapping means moving loosely back and forth, like a flag or a sail in the wind.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flapping:m2:1
# text = Flapping means moving loosely back and forth, like a flag or a sail in the wind.
1	Flapping	flapping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	loosely	loosely	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	back	back	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	forth	forth	ADV	RB	_	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	flag	flag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	sail	sail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Flapping |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **move** *not said to happen* | gerund | Flapping *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like a flag or a sail in the wind; loosely *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flapping (informal, British) can mean being nervous and worried, in a flap.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flapping:m3:1
# text = Flapping (informal, British) can mean being nervous and worried, in a flap.
1	Flapping	flap	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	csubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	cop	_	_
10	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	flap	flap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flap** | gerund |  | informal |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent informal=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | can | Flapping |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** *not said to happen* | gerund | Flapping *not said here* |  |  | a flap |  | nervous *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | Flapping *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bird was flapping its wings to take off.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flapping:x1:1
# text = The bird was flapping its wings to take off.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	flapping	flap	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
9	off	off	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flap** | past · progressive | the bird | bird's wings |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wing=Patient |
| 2 | **take off** | to-infinitive | the bird *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flag was flapping in the strong wind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flapping:x2:1
# text = The flag was flapping in the strong wind.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flag	flag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	flapping	flap	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	wind	wind	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 | **flap** | past · progressive | the flag |  |  | the strong wind |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in wind=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tent door kept flapping all night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flapping:x3:1
# text = The tent door kept flapping all night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tent	tent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	flapping	flap	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | the tent door |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **flap** | gerund | the tent door *not said here* |  |  |  | night |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ducks were flapping and splashing on the pond.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flapping:x4:1
# text = Ducks were flapping and splashing on the pond.
1	Ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	flapping	flap	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	splashing	splash	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flap** | past · progressive | Ducks |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **splash** | gerund | Ducks *not said here* |  |  | the pond |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on pond=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop flapping, we'll find your keys!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flapping:x5:1
# text = Stop flapping, we'll find your keys!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	flapping	flap	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	keys	key	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **flap** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **find** | future | we | your keys |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent key=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He ran around flapping his arms like a chicken.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flapping:x6:1
# text = He ran around flapping his arms like a chicken.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	around	around	ADP	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	flapping	flap	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	chicken	chicken	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 | **run around** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **flap** | gerund | He *not said here* | his arms |  |  |  | like a chicken | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent arm=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hummingbirds keep flapping their wings very fast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flapping:x7:1
# text = Hummingbirds keep flapping their wings very fast.
1	Hummingbirds	hummingbird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	flapping	flap	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | Hummingbirds |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **flap** | gerund | Hummingbirds *not said here* | Hummingbirds's wings |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wing=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tame crow stood in the door-way flapping her wings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flapping:x8:1
# text = The tame crow stood in the door-way flapping her wings.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tame	tame	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	flapping	flap	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	acl	_	_
11	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past | the tame crow |  |  | the door way |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in way=Location |
| 2 | **flap** | gerund | the door way *not said here* | crow's wings |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wing=Patient |

<!-- 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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