---
title: nip — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nip» in the school dictionary: To give a small, quick bite or pinch: «The puppy nipped my finger». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nip

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** puppy, I, crab, nip, you, teacher · **What happens:** give, nip, go, amount, get, be · **To what, where:** small quick bite, finger, shop, strong drink, toe, air

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To give a small, quick bite or pinch: «The puppy nipped my finger».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nip:m1:1
# text = To give a small, quick bite or pinch: «The puppy nipped my finger».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bite	bite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	pinch	pinch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	nipped	nip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
15	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | to-infinitive |  | a small quick bite or pinch |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bite=Theme |
| 2 | **nip** *in a quote* | past | the puppy | my finger |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location finger=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: UK, Ireland, Australia, informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To go somewhere quickly for a short time: «I'll nip to the shop».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nip:m2:1
# text = To go somewhere quickly for a short time: «I'll nip to the shop».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	2	advmod	_	_
4	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	nip	nip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  | time | somewhere *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **nip** *in a quote* | future | I |  |  | the shop |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to shop=Destination |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small bite or pinch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nip:m3:1
# text = A small bite or pinch.
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	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	pinch	pinch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A feeling of cold: «a nip in the air».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nip:m4:1
# text = A feeling of cold: «a nip in the air».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	nip	nip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small amount of a strong drink.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nip:m5:1
# text = A small amount of a strong drink.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	drink	drink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **amount** |  |  | a strong drink |  |  |  |  | nom amount «possession transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crab nipped my toe!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nip:x1:1
# text = The crab nipped my toe!
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crab	crab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	nipped	nip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	toe	toe	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 | **nip** | past | the crab | my toe |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location toe=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our puppy nips when he gets excited.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nip:x2:1
# text = Our puppy nips when he gets excited.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	nips	nip	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	excited	excited	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nip** | present | Our puppy |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **get** | present | puppy |  |  |  |  | excited *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'll just nip to the shop for some milk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nip:x3:1
# text = I'll just nip to the shop for some milk.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	just	just	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	nip	nip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	det	_	_
10	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nip** | future | I |  |  | the shop |  | for some milk | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to shop=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There's a nip in the air this morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nip:x4:1
# text = There's a nip in the air this morning.
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	nip	nip	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	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you nip upstairs and get my glasses?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nip:x5:1
# text = Can you nip upstairs and get my glasses?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	nip	nip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	upstairs	upstairs	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	glasses	glass	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nip** | can | you |  |  |  |  | upstairs *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **get** | infinitive | you *not said here* | my glasses |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer glass=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher nipped the argument in the bud.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nip:x6:1
# text = The teacher nipped the argument in the bud.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	nipped	nip	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	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bud	bud	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 | **nip** | past | the teacher | the argument |  | the bud |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The race was nip and tuck right to the end.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nip:x7:1
# text = The race was nip and tuck right to the end.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	nip	nip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	tuck	tuck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	right	right	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the race | nip and tuck |  |  | to the end |  | 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 -->

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