---
title: imprinting — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «imprinting» in the school dictionary: Imprinting is the way some baby animals, like ducklings and goslings, learn to follow and trust the first moving thing they see after hatching, usually their mother. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imprinting/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [I](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/) / imprinting

# imprinting

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Imprinting, baby animals, animals, act, Ducklings, Konrad · **What happens:** be, learn, follow, trust, move, see · **To what, where:** way, first moving thing, act, mark, something, mother

<!-- .vabout -->
«imprinting» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [imprinting in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/imprinting.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Imprinting is the way some baby animals, like ducklings and goslings, learn to follow and trust the first moving thing they see after hatching, usually their mother.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprinting:m1:1
# text = Imprinting is the way some baby animals, like ducklings and goslings, learn to follow and trust the first moving thing they see after hatching, usually their mother.
1	Imprinting	imprinting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	det	_	_
6	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	ducklings	duckling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	goslings	gosling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	learn	learn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	follow	follow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	trust	trust	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	conj	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
20	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	22	amod	_	_
21	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	22	amod	_	_
22	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
23	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
24	see	see	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	acl:relcl	_	_
25	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	26	mark	_	_
26	hatching	hatch	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	24	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
28	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	30	advmod	_	_
29	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	30	nmod:poss	_	_
30	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Imprinting | the way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **learn** | present | some baby animals like ducklings and goslings | the way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **follow** | to-infinitive | some baby animals like ducklings and goslings *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **trust** | infinitive | some baby animals like ducklings and goslings *not said here* | the first moving thing |  |  |  | animals's mother *obl* | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |
| 5 | **move** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 6 | **see** | present | animals *= animal* | the first moving thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer thing=Stimulus |
| 7 | **hatch** | gerund | animals *= animal* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn grow-26.2.1 «NP.patient V PP.product»: agent=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 -->
Imprinting is the act of pressing or printing a mark or design onto something.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprinting:m2:1
# text = Imprinting is the act of pressing or printing a mark or design onto something.
1	Imprinting	imprinting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	pressing	press	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	printing	print	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	conj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	mark	mark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	design	design	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Imprinting | the act |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **press** | gerund | the act *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **print** | gerund | the act *not said here* | a mark or design |  | something |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mark=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ducklings follow their mother because of imprinting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprinting:x1:1
# text = Ducklings follow their mother because of imprinting.
1	Ducklings	duckling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	follow	follow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	imprinting	imprint	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | present | Ducklings | Ducklings's mother |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mother=Theme |
| 2 | **imprint** | gerund | Ducklings *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The goslings imprinted on the farmer and followed him everywhere.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprinting:x2:1
# text = The goslings imprinted on the farmer and followed him everywhere.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goslings	gosling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	imprinted	imprint	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	followed	follow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	everywhere	everywhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **imprint** | participle |  | the goslings *not said here* |  |  |  | on the farmer | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **follow** | past |  | farmer |  |  |  | everywhere *property* | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Konrad Lorenz studied imprinting in geese.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprinting:x3:1
# text = Konrad Lorenz studied imprinting in geese.
1	Konrad	Konrad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Lorenz	Lorenz	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	studied	study	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	imprinting	imprint	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	geese	goose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | past | Konrad |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **imprint** | gerund | Konrad *not said here* |  |  |  |  | in geese | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Imprinting happens in the first hours after a chick hatches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprinting:x4:1
# text = Imprinting happens in the first hours after a chick hatches.
1	Imprinting	imprint	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nsubj	_	_
2	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	6	amod	_	_
6	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	chick	chick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	hatches	hatch	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **imprint** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **happen** | present |  |  |  |  | hour |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **hatch** | present | a chick |  |  |  |  |  | vn grow-26.2.1 «NP V NP.product PP.patient»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The factory is imprinting the school logo on our new sweatshirts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprinting:x5:1
# text = The factory is imprinting the school logo on our new sweatshirts.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	factory	factory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	imprinting	imprint	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	logo	logo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	sweatshirts	sweatshirt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **imprint** | present · progressive | the factory | the school logo |  | our new sweatshirts |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.theme PP.destination»: agent=Agent logo=Theme on sweatshirt=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Zookeepers wear puppets so the chicks do not start imprinting on people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprinting:x6:1
# text = Zookeepers wear puppets so the chicks do not start imprinting on people.
1	Zookeepers	zookeeper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wear	wear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	puppets	puppet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	chicks	chick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
7	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	imprinting	imprint	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	xcomp	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | present | Zookeepers | puppets |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent puppet=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **start** | present · do-support | the chicks |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **not** **imprint** | gerund | the chicks *not said here* |  |  |  |  | on people | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [imprint](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imprint/)
- next →: [imprison](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imprison/)
- ↑ back to [I in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/)