---
title: nibble — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nibble» in the school dictionary: To eat something by taking very small bites. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nibble

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** animals, fish, Nibble, you, mouse, rabbit · **What happens:** eat, take, bite, nibble, be, love · **To what, where:** something, small bites, toe, nibble, fond pet name, nibble darling · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«nibble» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [nibble in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nibble.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To eat something by taking very small bites.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nibble:m1:1
# text = To eat something by taking very small bites.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	eat	eat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	bites	bite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **take** | gerund |  | small bites |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bite=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 -->
Of animals or fish: to bite gently: «A fish nibbled my toe».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nibble:m2:1
# text = Of animals or fish: to bite gently: «A fish nibbled my toe».
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	bite	bite	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	gently	gently	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	nibbled	nibble	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	parataxis	_	_
14	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	toe	toe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bite** | to-infinitive | animals or fish |  |  |  |  | gently *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **nibble** *in a quote* | participle | a fish | my toe |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent toe=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small bite: «take a nibble».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nibble:m3:1
# text = A small bite: «take a nibble».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bite	bite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	nibble	nibble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a nibble |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nibble=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Small snacks at a party, like crisps and nuts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nibble:m4:1
# text = Small snacks at a party, like crisps and nuts.
1	Small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	snacks	snack	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	crisps	crisp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	nuts	nut	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nibble can also be a fond pet name for someone you love, as in "my nibble darling".

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nibble:m5:1
# text = Nibble can also be a fond pet name for someone you love, as in "my nibble darling".
1	Nibble	nibble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	fond	fond	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nmod	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	love	love	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
14	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
16	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
18	nibble	nibble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	darling	darling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | Nibble | a fond pet name |  |  |  | for someone | tree rules |
| 2 | **love** | present | you | my nibble darling |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer darling=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mouse nibbled the cheese.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nibble:x1:1
# text = The mouse nibbled the cheese.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	nibbled	nibble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cheese	cheese	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nibble** | past | the mouse | the cheese |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cheese=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My rabbit nibbles carrots all day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nibble:x2:1
# text = My rabbit nibbles carrots all day.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	rabbit	rabbit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	nibbles	nibble	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	carrots	carrot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nibble** | present | My rabbit | carrots |  |  | day |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent carrot=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She nibbled her biscuit slowly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nibble:x3:1
# text = She nibbled her biscuit slowly.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	nibbled	nibble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	biscuit	biscuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nibble** | past | She | her biscuit |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent biscuit=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I felt a fish nibble my toe in the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nibble:x4:1
# text = I felt a fish nibble my toe in the sea.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	nibble	nibble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	toe	toe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **nibble** | infinitive | a fish | my toe |  | the sea |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent toe=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can I have a nibble of your chocolate?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nibble:x5:1
# text = Can I have a nibble of your chocolate?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	nibble	nibble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | can | I | a nibble of your chocolate |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nibble=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum put out some nibbles for the guests.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nibble:x6:1
# text = Mum put out some nibbles for the guests.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	nibbles	nibble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	guests	guest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put out** | past | Mum | some nibbles |  |  |  | for the guests | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent nibble=Goal |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The caterpillar nibbled holes in the leaf.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nibble:x7:1
# text = The caterpillar nibbled holes in the leaf.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	caterpillar	caterpillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	nibbled	nibble	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	holes	hole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nibble** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Come to me, my nibble darling!" said he.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nibble:x8:1
# text = "Come to me, my nibble darling!" said he.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	ccomp	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	nibble	nibble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	darling	darling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
11	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | my nibble darling | me |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to i=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **say** *speech: express* | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- 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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