---
title: gossip — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gossip» in the school dictionary: Gossip is talk about other people's private lives, often unkind or not true. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gossip

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** gossip, person, you, They, She, I · **What happens:** be, like, talk, mean, not listen, gossip · **To what, where:** Gossip talk, person, way, feelings, terrible gossip, gossip · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gossip is talk about other people's private lives, often unkind or not true.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gossip:m1:1
# text = Gossip is talk about other people's private lives, often unkind or not true.
1	Gossip	gossip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
5	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	private	private	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	lives	life	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | Gossip talk |  |  |  | about other people's private lives | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  | often *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 gossip is a person who likes to talk about others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gossip:m2:1
# text = A gossip is a person who likes to talk about others.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gossip	gossip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a gossip | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **like** | present | a person |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **talk** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about others | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about other=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To gossip means to talk about other people in this way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gossip:m3:1
# text = To gossip means to talk about other people in this way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	gossip	gossip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | gossip |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **talk** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | this way |  | about other people | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about people=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't listen to gossip about your friends.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gossip:x1:1
# text = Don't listen to gossip about your friends.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	listen	listen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	gossip	gossip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	friends	friend	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 | **not** **listen** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **gossip** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about your friends | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about friend=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They were gossiping about the new boy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gossip:x2:1
# text = They were gossiping about the new boy.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	gossiping	gossip	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **gossip** *speech: other* | past · progressive | They |  |  |  |  | about the new boy | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about boy=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gossip can hurt people's feelings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gossip:x3:1
# text = Gossip can hurt people's feelings.
1	Gossip	gossip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hurt** | can | Gossip | people's feelings |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer feeling=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is a terrible gossip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gossip:x4:1
# text = She is a terrible gossip.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	gossip	gossip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | She | a terrible gossip |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I heard some gossip at lunch, but I didn't believe it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gossip:x5:1
# text = I heard some gossip at lunch, but I didn't believe it.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	gossip	gossip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	parataxis	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | I | some gossip |  | lunch |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer gossip=Stimulus |
| 2 | **not** **believe** | past · do-support | I | gossip |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gossip turned out to be untrue.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gossip:x6:1
# text = The gossip turned out to be untrue.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gossip	gossip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
7	untrue	untrue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn out** | past | the gossip |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | the gossip *not said here* |  |  |  |  | untrue *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old ladies gossiped over the garden fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gossip:x7:1
# text = The old ladies gossiped over the garden fence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	ladies	lady	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gossiped	gossip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	fence	fence	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 | **gossip** *speech: other* | past | the old ladies |  |  | the garden fence |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Soldier was gossiping with him, and said:

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gossip:x8:1
# text = The Soldier was gossiping with him, and said:
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Soldier	Soldier	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	gossiping	gossip	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **gossip** *speech: other* | past · progressive | the Soldier |  |  |  |  | with him *= he* | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with he=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the Soldier *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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