---
title: nestling — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nestling» in the school dictionary: A baby bird too young to leave the nest. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nestling

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** village, nestlings, nestling, puppy, We, robin · **What happens:** leave, settle, nestle, lie, shelter, open · **To what, where:** nest, blanket, sheltered place, valley, beaks, few feathers

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A baby bird too young to leave the nest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nestling:m1:1
# text = A baby bird too young to leave the nest.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	nest	nest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | to-infinitive |  | the nest |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nest=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Settling snugly and comfortably, as in "nestling under a blanket".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nestling:m2:1
# text = Settling snugly and comfortably, as in "nestling under a blanket".
1	Settling	settle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	snugly	snugly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	comfortably	comfortably	ADV	RB	_	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	nestling	nestle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
10	under	under	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	blanket	blanket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **settle** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | snugly *property* | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **nestle** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  | a blanket |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme under blanket=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lying in a sheltered place, as in "a village nestling in the valley".

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nestling:m3:1
# text = Lying in a sheltered place, as in "a village nestling in the valley".
1	Lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	csubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	sheltered	shelter	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	nestling	nestle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	valley	valley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | gerund |  |  |  | a sheltered place |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in place=Location |
| 2 | **shelter** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **nestle** *in a quote* | gerund | a village *not said here* |  |  | the valley |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in valley=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nestlings opened their beaks wide for food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nestling:x1:1
# text = The nestlings opened their beaks wide for food.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nestlings	nestling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	opened	open	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	beaks	beak	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	wide	wide	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **open** | past | the nestlings | nestlings's beaks |  |  |  | for food; wide *property* | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location beak=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A nestling has few feathers and cannot fly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nestling:x2:1
# text = A nestling has few feathers and cannot fly.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nestling	nestling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a nestling | few feathers |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feather=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **fly** | can | a nestling *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The village lay nestling in the green valley.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nestling:x3:1
# text = The village lay nestling in the green valley.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lay	lie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	nestling	nestle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	valley	valley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | past | the village |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **nestle** | gerund | the village *not said here* |  |  | the green valley |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in valley=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy was nestling against its mother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nestling:x4:1
# text = The puppy was nestling against its mother.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	nestling	nestle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	against	against	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nestle** | past · progressive | the puppy |  |  |  |  | against puppy's mother | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V NP.theme PP»: agent=Agent against mother=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched the robin feed its nestlings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nestling:x5:1
# text = We watched the robin feed its nestlings.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	robin	robin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	feed	feed	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	nestlings	nestling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We | the robin |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feed** | infinitive | the robin *not said here* | robin's nestlings |  |  |  |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nestling=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cottage stood nestling under tall trees.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nestling:x6:1
# text = The cottage stood nestling under tall trees.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cottage	cottage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	nestling	nestle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	under	under	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past | the cottage |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **nestle** | gerund | the cottage *not said here* |  |  | tall trees |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme under tree=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you find a nestling on the ground, ask an adult or a wildlife centre for help.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nestling:x7:1
# text = If you find a nestling on the ground, ask an adult or a wildlife centre for help.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	find	find	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	nestling	nestling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
10	ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	wildlife	wildlife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	centre	centre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | a nestling |  | the ground |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nestling=Topic |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | imperative | you *not said here* |  | a adult or a wildlife centre for help |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When the man awoke in the morning he was much surprised to find the boy nestling up close to him.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nestling:x8:1
# text = When the man awoke in the morning he was much surprised to find the boy nestling up close to him.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	awoke	awake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	much	much	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	surprised	surprised	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	nestling	nestle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	15	acl	_	_
17	up	up	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	close	close	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	16	advmod	_	_
19	to	to	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **awake** | past | the man |  |  |  | morning |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | man |  |  |  |  | surprised *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **find** | to-infinitive | man *not said here* | the boy |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boy=Topic |
| 4 | **nestle** | gerund | the boy *not said here* |  |  |  |  | close *property* | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=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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