---
title: flutter — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flutter» in the school dictionary: To move wings quickly and lightly, or to fly with quick small movements, like a butterfly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flutter

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** flags, heart, they, my, Leaves, Grandad · **What happens:** move, fly, beat, have, flutter, call · **To what, where:** wings, air, flutter, butterfly, flower, wind · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To move wings quickly and lightly, or to fly with quick small movements, like a butterfly.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flutter:m1:1
# text = To move wings quickly and lightly, or to fly with quick small movements, like a butterfly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
3	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	lightly	lightly	ADV	RB	_	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	fly	fly	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
13	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	movements	movement	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	butterfly	butterfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | to-infinitive |  | wings |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent wing=Theme |
| 2 | **fly** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with quick small movements; like a butterfly | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
To move gently and quickly back and forth in the air, like a flag or leaves.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flutter:m2:1
# text = To move gently and quickly back and forth in the air, like a flag or leaves.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	gently	gently	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	back	back	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	forth	forth	ADV	RB	_	6	conj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	flag	flag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | the air |  | gently *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme in air=Trajectory |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of the heart — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To beat fast and unevenly because of excitement or nerves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flutter:m3:1
# text = To beat fast and unevenly because of excitement or nerves.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	beat	beat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	unevenly	unevenly	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	_
6	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	8	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	excitement	excitement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	nerves	nerve	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beat** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | because excitement or nerves; fast *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small bet: «have a flutter on the horses».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flutter:m4:1
# text = A small bet: «have a flutter on the horses».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bet	bet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	parataxis	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	flutter	flutter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	horses	horse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a flutter |  |  |  | on the horses | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flutter=Patient |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A state of excitement: «in a flutter».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flutter:m5:1
# text = A state of excitement: «in a flutter».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	excitement	excitement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	flutter	flutter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The butterfly fluttered from flower to flower.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flutter:x1:1
# text = The butterfly fluttered from flower to flower.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	butterfly	butterfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	fluttered	flutter	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	flower	flower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	flower	flower	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 | **flutter** | participle |  | the butterfly *not said here* |  | flower |  | to flower | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flags fluttered in the wind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flutter:x2:1
# text = The flags fluttered in the wind.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flags	flag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fluttered	flutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|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 | **flutter** | past | the flags |  |  | 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 -->
My heart fluttered when they called my name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flutter:x3:1
# text = My heart fluttered when they called my name.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fluttered	flutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flutter** | past | My heart |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | past | they | my name |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent name=Recipient |
| 3 | **name** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leaves fluttered down to the ground.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flutter:x4:1
# text = Leaves fluttered down to the ground.
1	Leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	fluttered	flutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	down	down	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flutter down** | past | Leaves |  |  |  |  | to the ground; down *property* | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad has a little flutter on the Grand National.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flutter:x5:1
# text = Grandad has a little flutter on the Grand National.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	flutter	flutter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	Grand	Grand	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	National	National	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Grandad | a little flutter |  | the Grand National |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flutter=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby bird fluttered its wings but couldn't fly yet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flutter:x6:1
# text = The baby bird fluttered its wings but couldn't fly yet.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	fluttered	flutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	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	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
11	yet	yet	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flutter** | past | the baby bird | bird's wings |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location wing=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **fly** | could | the baby bird *not said here* |  |  |  | yet |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was all in a flutter before the show.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flutter:x7:1
# text = She was all in a flutter before the show.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	all	all	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	flutter	flutter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	before	before	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	show	show	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | She |  |  | a flutter | before the show | all *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But the Eagle, uttering a dolorous cry, fluttered his broad wings and disappeared.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flutter:x8:1
# text = But the Eagle, uttering a dolorous cry, fluttered his broad wings and disappeared.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Eagle	Eagle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	uttering	utter	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	dolorous	dolorous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	cry	cry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	fluttered	flutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
12	broad	broad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	disappeared	disappear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **utter** *speech: other* | gerund | the Eagle *not said here* | a dolorous cry |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent cry=Topic |
| 2 | **flutter** | past | the Eagle | Eagle's broad wings |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location wing=Theme |
| 3 | **disappear** | past | the Eagle *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «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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