---
title: gesture — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gesture» in the school dictionary: A movement of your hand, head or body that shows a meaning, like waving, nodding or pointing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gesture

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** movement, you, She, Nodding, gesture, Bringing · **What happens:** show, wave, nod, point, move, do · **To what, where:** meaning, hand, feeling, something, door, goodbye · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A movement of your hand, head or body that shows a meaning, like waving, nodding or pointing.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gesture:m1:1
# text = A movement of your hand, head or body that shows a meaning, like waving, nodding or pointing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	waving	wave	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	nodding	nod	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	conj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	pointing	point	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | a movement of your hand and head or body | a meaning |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent meaning=Recipient |
| 2 | **wave** | gerund | a movement of your hand and head or body *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **nod** | gerund | a movement of your hand and head or body *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **point** | gerund | a movement of your hand and head or body *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **move** |  |  | your hand and head or body |  |  |  |  | nom movement «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Something you do to show a feeling, especially kindness: «a kind gesture».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gesture:m2:1
# text = Something you do to show a feeling, especially kindness: «a kind gesture».
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	gesture	gesture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a feeling and kindness |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent feeling=Recipient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To move your hand or head to show something: «She gestured to the door».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gesture:m3:1
# text = To move your hand or head to show something: «She gestured to the door».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	gestured	gesture	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | to-infinitive |  | your hand or head |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent hand=Theme |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent something=Recipient |
| 3 | **gesture** *in a quote* | past | She |  | the door |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to door=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She waved goodbye – a friendly gesture.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gesture:x1:1
# text = She waved goodbye – a friendly gesture.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	waved	wave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	goodbye	goodbye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	–	-	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	friendly	friendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	gesture	gesture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wave** | past | She | goodbye |  |  |  | a friendly gesture *obl:unmarked* | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent goodbye=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nodding is a gesture that means "yes" in many countries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gesture:x2:1
# text = Nodding is a gesture that means "yes" in many countries.
1	Nodding	nodding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	gesture	gesture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Nodding | a gesture |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present | a gesture |  |  |  |  | in many countries | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in country=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bringing flowers to the new neighbour was a kind gesture.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gesture:x3:1
# text = Bringing flowers to the new neighbour was a kind gesture.
1	Bringing	bring	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	neighbour	neighbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	gesture	gesture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bring** | gerund |  | flowers |  | the new neighbour |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent flower=Theme to neighbour=Destination |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Bringing | a kind gesture |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher gestured to us to sit down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gesture:x4:1
# text = The teacher gestured to us to sit down.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gestured	gesture	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	sit	sit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	down	down	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **gesture** | past | the teacher |  | us |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to we=Recipient |
| 2 | **sit down** | to-infinitive | the teacher *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He made a rude gesture and got into trouble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gesture:x5:1
# text = He made a rude gesture and got into trouble.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	gesture	gesture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | He | a rude gesture |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gesture=Product |
| 2 | **get** | past | He *not said here* |  |  | trouble |  |  | vn escape-51.1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme into trouble=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sign language uses many gestures.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gesture:x6:1
# text = Sign language uses many gestures.
1	Sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	gestures	gesture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Sign language | many gestures |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gesture=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some gestures mean something different in other countries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gesture:x7:1
# text = Some gestures mean something different in other countries.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	gestures	gesture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | some gestures | something |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With a hasty gesture he tried to hide it, but he was too late.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gesture:x8:1
# text = With a hasty gesture he tried to hide it, but he was too late.
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	hasty	hasty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	gesture	gesture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	hide	hide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
12	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
13	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
14	too	too	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | he |  |  |  |  | with a hasty gesture | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **hide** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | he *not said here* | gesture |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | past | he |  |  |  |  | late *property* | 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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