---
title: nick — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nick» in the school dictionary: A nick is a small cut or notch on a surface or the skin. 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/N/nick/)

<!-- 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/) / [N](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/) / nick

# nick

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** nick, British, good nick, Old Nick, I, Dad · **What happens:** be, nick, mean, steal, get, shave · **To what, where:** small cut, something, cut, old name, nick, finger

<!-- .vabout -->
«nick» in the school dictionary: its 6 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [nick in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nick.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A nick is a small cut or notch on a surface or the skin.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nick:m1:1
# text = A nick is a small cut or notch on a surface or the skin.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nick	nick	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	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cut	cut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	notch	notch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	surface	surface	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a nick | a small cut or notch on a surface or the skin |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
To nick something is to make a small cut in it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nick:m2:1
# text = To nick something is to make a small cut in it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	nick	nick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	cut	cut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nick** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | cut |  | make *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In British, Irish, Australian and New Zealand slang, to nick means to steal.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nick:m3:1
# text = In British, Irish, Australian and New Zealand slang, to nick means to steal.
1	In	in	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
2	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	Irish	Irish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	Australian	Australian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	flat	_	_
9	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	nick	nick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl:relcl	_	_
14	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	steal	steal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nick** | to-infinitive | British *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present | British |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **steal** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"In the nick of time" means only just in time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nick:m4:1
# text = "In the nick of time" means only just in time.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	nick	nick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	only	only	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	just	just	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the nick of time |  |  |  | time |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"In good nick" (British slang) means in good condition.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nick:m5:1
# text = "In good nick" (British slang) means in good condition.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	nick	nick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	8	punct	_	_
10	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	condition	condition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | good nick |  |  |  |  | in good condition | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in condition=Attribute |

## Meaning 6 {#m6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Old Nick" is an old name for the Devil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nick:m6:1
# text = "Old Nick" is an old name for the Devil.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Nick	Nick	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Devil	Devil	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Old Nick | a old name |  |  |  | for the Devil | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I got a nick on my finger from the paper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nick:x1:1
# text = I got a nick on my finger from the paper.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	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	nick	nick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | I | a nick |  | my finger |  | from the paper | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent nick=Theme on finger=Source |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad nicked his chin while shaving.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nick:x2:1
# text = Dad nicked his chin while shaving.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	nicked	nick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	chin	chin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	shaving	shave	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nick** | past | Dad | Dad's chin |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chin=Patient |
| 2 | **shave** | gerund | Dad *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Someone nicked my bike from outside the shop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nick:x3:1
# text = Someone nicked my bike from outside the shop.
1	Someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	nsubj	_	_
2	nicked	nick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	outside	outside	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nick** | past | Someone | my bike |  | the shop |  |  | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent bike=Theme from shop=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The firefighters arrived in the nick of time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nick:x4:1
# text = The firefighters arrived in the nick of time.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	firefighters	firefighter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	arrived	arrive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	nick	nick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **arrive** | past | the firefighters |  |  | the nick of time |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old car is still in good nick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nick:x5:1
# text = The old car is still in good nick.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	still	still	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	nick	nick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the old car |  |  | good nick | still |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There's a nick in the edge of the table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nick:x6:1
# text = There's a nick in the edge of the table.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	nick	nick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a nick |  |  | the edge of the table; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in edge=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nick is short for Nicholas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nick:x7:1
# text = Nick is short for Nicholas.
1	Nick	Nick	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Nicholas	Nicholas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Nick |  |  |  |  | for Nicholas; short *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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: [niche](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/niche/)
- next →: [nickel](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nickel/)
- ↑ back to [N in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/)