---
title: fluke — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fluke» in the school dictionary: A fluke is a lucky chance, something good that happened by accident, not because of skill. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fluke

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** fluke, flat parasitic worm, flukes, goal, it, you · **What happens:** be, happen, live, mean, repeat, lift · **To what, where:** lucky chance, flat parasitic worm, two flat parts, flat pointed part, tail fin, total fluke

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fluke is a lucky chance, something good that happened by accident, not because of skill.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fluke:m1:1
# text = A fluke is a lucky chance, something good that happened by accident, not because of skill.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fluke	fluke	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	lucky	lucky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	appos	_	_
9	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
16	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	18	case	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	fixed	_	_
18	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a fluke | a lucky chance |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **happen** | past |  |  |  |  |  | by accident and skill | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme by accident=Location |

<!-- .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 fluke is a flat parasitic worm that can live inside animals or people.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fluke:m2:1
# text = A fluke is a flat parasitic worm that can live inside animals or people.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fluke	fluke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	parasitic	parasitic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	worm	worm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a fluke | a flat parasitic worm |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | can | a flat parasitic worm |  |  |  |  | inside animals or people | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme inside animal=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flukes are the two flat parts of a whale's tail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fluke:m3:1
# text = The flukes are the two flat parts of a whale's tail.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flukes	fluke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
6	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the flukes | the two flat parts |  |  |  | of a whale's tail | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fluke is the flat pointed part of an anchor's arm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fluke:m4:1
# text = A fluke is the flat pointed part of an anchor's arm.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fluke	fluke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	pointed	pointed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	anchor	anchor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a fluke | the flat pointed part |  |  |  | of a anchor's arm | tree rules |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fluke can also mean the tail fin of a fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fluke:m5:1
# text = A fluke can also mean the tail fin of a fish.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fluke	fluke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	fin	fin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | a fluke | the tail fin of a fish |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fin=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That goal was a total fluke!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fluke:x1:1
# text = That goal was a total fluke!
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	goal	goal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	total	total	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	fluke	fluke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | that goal | a total fluke |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Was it skill or a fluke?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fluke:x2:1
# text = Was it skill or a fluke?
1	Was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fluke	fluke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | it | skill or a fluke |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Repeat the experiment in case the result was a fluke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fluke:x3:1
# text = Repeat the experiment in case the result was a fluke.
1	Repeat	repeat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	_
5	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	fixed	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fluke	fluke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repeat** | imperative | you *not said here* | the experiment |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent experiment=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is** | past | the result |  |  | a fluke |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The whale lifted its flukes and dived.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fluke:x4:1
# text = The whale lifted its flukes and dived.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lifted	lift	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	flukes	fluke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	dived	dive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lift** | past | the whale | whale's flukes |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fluke=Theme |
| 2 | **dive** | past | the whale *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Liver flukes can make sheep ill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fluke:x5:1
# text = Liver flukes can make sheep ill.
1	Liver	liver	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	flukes	fluke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | can | Liver flukes | sheep |  |  |  | ill *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sheep=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Winning the raffle twice was a fluke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fluke:x6:1
# text = Winning the raffle twice was a fluke.
1	Winning	win	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	raffle	raffle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	1	advmod	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fluke	fluke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | gerund |  | the raffle |  |  |  | twice *property* | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent raffle=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Winning | a fluke |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He passed by fluke, not by revising.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fluke:x7:1
# text = He passed by fluke, not by revising.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	passed	pass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	by	by	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	fluke	fluke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	revising	revise	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** | past | He |  |  |  |  | by fluke | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme by fluke=Location |
| 2 | **not** **revise** | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Puddock he swam down the brook, Sir Drake he catched him in his fluke.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fluke:x8:1
# text = Puddock he swam down the brook, Sir Drake he catched him in his fluke.
1	Puddock	puddock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swam	swim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	brook	brook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	Sir	Sir	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	Drake	drake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	catched	catche	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
12	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	fluke	fluke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim down** | past | Puddock | the brook |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme brook=Trajectory |
| 2 | **catche** | past | Sir Drake | Puddock |  | Puddock's fluke |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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