---
title: kingfisher — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «kingfisher» in the school dictionary: A kingfisher is a small, brightly coloured bird with a big head and a long sharp beak that dives into water to catch fish. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# kingfisher

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** kingfisher, long sharp beak, kingfishers, We, kookaburra · **What happens:** be, dive, catch, see, nest, copy · **To what, where:** small coloured bird, water, fish, lizards, land, river

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A kingfisher is a small, brightly coloured bird with a big head and a long sharp beak that dives into water to catch fish.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kingfisher:m1:1
# text = A kingfisher is a small, brightly coloured bird with a big head and a long sharp beak that dives into water to catch fish.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kingfisher	kingfisher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	brightly	brightly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	coloured	coloured	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
16	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
17	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	beak	beak	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
19	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
20	dives	dive	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	acl:relcl	_	_
21	into	into	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	_
23	to	to	PART	TO	_	24	mark	_	_
24	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	advcl	_	_
25	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a kingfisher | a small coloured bird |  |  |  | with a big head and a long sharp beak | tree rules |
| 2 | **dive** | present | a long sharp beak |  |  | water |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into water=Location |
| 3 | **catch** | to-infinitive | a long sharp beak *not said here* | fish |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=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 -->
Some kingfishers, such as the Australian kookaburra, are large and catch lizards and insects on land.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kingfisher:m2:1
# text = Some kingfishers, such as the Australian kookaburra, are large and catch lizards and insects on land.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	kingfishers	kingfisher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
4	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	8	case	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	Australian	Australian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	kookaburra	kookaburra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	catch	catch	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
14	lizards	lizard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
17	on	on	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | some kingfishers and the Australian kookaburra |  |  |  |  | large *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **catch** | present | some kingfishers and the Australian kookaburra *not said here* | lizards and insects |  | land |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lizard=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A kingfisher dived into the river and caught a fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kingfisher:x1:1
# text = A kingfisher dived into the river and caught a fish.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kingfisher	kingfisher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dived	dive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dive** | past | a kingfisher |  |  | the river |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into river=Location |
| 2 | **catch** | past | a kingfisher *not said here* | a fish |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a flash of blue — a kingfisher!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kingfisher:x2:1
# text = We saw a flash of blue — a kingfisher!
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	flash	flash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nmod	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	kingfisher	kingfisher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a flash of blue |  |  |  | a kingfisher *obl* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer flash=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kookaburra is a big kingfisher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kingfisher:x3:1
# text = The kookaburra is a big kingfisher.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kookaburra	kookaburra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	kingfisher	kingfisher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kingfishers nest in tunnels in riverbanks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kingfisher:x4:1
# text = Kingfishers nest in tunnels in riverbanks.
1	Kingfishers	kingfisher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	nest	nest	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	tunnels	tunnel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	riverbanks	riverbank	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nest** | present | Kingfishers |  |  | tunnels |  | in riverbanks | vn berry-13.7 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bullet train's nose was copied from a kingfisher's beak.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kingfisher:x5:1
# text = The bullet train's nose was copied from a kingfisher's beak.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bullet	bullet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	copied	copy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	kingfisher	kingfisher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	beak	beak	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **copy** | past · passive |  | the bullet train's nose |  | a kingfisher's beak |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kingfishers need clean rivers with lots of small fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kingfisher:x6:1
# text = Kingfishers need clean rivers with lots of small fish.
1	Kingfishers	kingfisher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	clean	clean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	rivers	river	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | Kingfishers | clean rivers |  |  |  | with lots of small fish | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot river=Theme |

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**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.

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