---
title: gill — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gill» in the school dictionary: Gills are the body parts that fish and some other water animals use to breathe; they take oxygen from the water. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gill

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Gills, fish, Tadpoles, frogs, Whales, you · **What happens:** be, use, breathe, take, mean, have · **To what, where:** body parts, oxygen, water, thin lines, cap, cheeks

<!-- .vabout -->
«gill» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [gill in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gill.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gills are the body parts that fish and some other water animals use to breathe; they take oxygen from the water.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gill:m1:1
# text = Gills are the body parts that fish and some other water animals use to breathe; they take oxygen from the water.
1	Gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	obj	_	_
7	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	det	_	_
10	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
13	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	breathe	breathe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
17	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
19	oxygen	oxygen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
20	from	from	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Gills | the body parts |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | present | fish and some other water animals | the body parts |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Patient |
| 3 | **breathe** | to-infinitive | fish and some other water animals *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **take** | present | fish | oxygen |  | the water |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent oxygen=Theme from water=Initial\_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 -->
Gills are also the thin lines under the cap of a mushroom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gill:m2:1
# text = Gills are also the thin lines under the cap of a mushroom.
1	Gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
7	under	under	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cap	cap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	mushroom	mushroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Gills | the thin lines |  | the cap of a mushroom |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gills can also mean a person's cheeks or face, as in "pale to the gills", meaning very pale with fear.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gill:m3:1
# text = Gills can also mean a person's cheeks or face, as in "pale to the gills", meaning very pale with fear.
1	Gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	cheeks	cheek	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	pale	pale	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
22	very	very	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
23	pale	pale	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	xcomp	_	_
24	with	with	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Gills | a person's cheeks or face |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | gerund | Gills *not said here* |  |  |  |  | pale *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fish breathe through their gills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gill:x1:1
# text = Fish breathe through their gills.
1	Fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	breathe	breathe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **breathe** | present | Fish |  |  | Fish's gills |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tadpoles have gills, but frogs have lungs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gill:x2:1
# text = Tadpoles have gills, but frogs have lungs.
1	Tadpoles	tadpole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	lungs	lung	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Tadpoles | gills |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gill=Patient |
| 2 | **have** | present | frogs | lungs |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lung=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shark's gills look like slits.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gill:x3:1
# text = The shark's gills look like slits.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shark	shark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	slits	slit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | the shark's gills |  |  |  |  | like slits | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whales do not have gills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gill:x4:1
# text = Whales do not have gills.
1	Whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **have** | present · do-support | Whales | gills |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gill=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Look at the gills under the mushroom cap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gill:x5:1
# text = Look at the gills under the mushroom cap.
1	Look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
5	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	mushroom	mushroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	cap	cap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at the gills under the mushroom cap | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at gill=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Water flows over the gills to give oxygen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gill:x6:1
# text = Water flows over the gills to give oxygen.
1	Water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	flows	flow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	over	over	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	oxygen	oxygen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flow** | present | Water |  |  | the gills |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over gill=Location |
| 2 | **give** | to-infinitive | Water *not said here* | oxygen |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent oxygen=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the boat ride he looked green around the gills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gill:x7:1
# text = After the boat ride he looked green around the gills.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	ride	ride	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	around	around	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | he |  |  |  | after the boat ride | around the gills; green *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent around gill=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fish out of water cannot breathe with its gills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gill:x8:1
# text = A fish out of water cannot breathe with its gills.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	breathe	breathe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **breathe** | can | a fish out water |  |  |  |  | with fish's gills | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In that supreme moment Hook did not blanch, even at the gills, but Smee and Starkey clung to each other in terror.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gill:x9:1
# text = In that supreme moment Hook did not blanch, even at the gills, but Smee and Starkey clung to each other in terror.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
3	supreme	supreme	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	Hook	hook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
6	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	blanch	blanch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	even	even	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
15	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
16	Smee	Smee	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	Starkey	Starkey	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
19	clung	cling	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
20	to	to	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	each	each	DET	DT	ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp	19	obl	_	_
22	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	fixed	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	terror	terror	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **blanch** | past · do-support |  |  |  | supreme moment Hook |  | at the gills | vn change\_bodily\_state-40.8.4 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer at gill=Stimulus |
| 2 | **cling** | past | Smee and Starkey |  |  | terror |  | to each | vn cling-22.5 «NP V PP.co-theme»: agent=Theme to each=Co-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 -->

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