---
title: nipping — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nipping» in the school dictionary: Giving a quick, small bite or pinch. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nipping

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** it, puppy, I, crab, Mum, you · **What happens:** give, bite, sting, nip, go, nip out · **To what, where:** quick small bite, nipping wind, shop, something, socks, corner shop

<!-- .vabout -->
«nipping» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [nipping in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nipping.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Giving a quick, small bite or pinch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nipping:m1:1
# text = Giving a quick, small bite or pinch.
1	Giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
3	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bite	bite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	pinch	pinch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | gerund |  | a quick small bite or pinch |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Biting or stinging, as in "a nipping wind".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nipping:m2:1
# text = Biting or stinging, as in "a nipping wind".
1	Biting	bite	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	stinging	sting	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	nipping	nip	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	amod	_	_
10	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bite** | gerund |  |  |  | a nipping wind |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent in wind=Location |
| 2 | **sting** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **nip** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Going somewhere quickly for a short time, as in "nipping out to the shop".

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nipping:m3:1
# text = Going somewhere quickly for a short time, as in "nipping out to the shop".
1	Going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	1	advmod	_	_
3	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	nipping	nip	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
13	out	out	ADP	RP	_	12	compound:prt	_	_
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	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: with "in the bud" — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stopping something before it grows bigger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nipping:m4:1
# text = Stopping something before it grows bigger.
1	Stopping	stop	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality something=Eventuality |
| 2 | **grow** | present | it |  |  |  |  | big *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy keeps nipping at my socks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nipping:x1:1
# text = The puppy keeps nipping at my socks.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	nipping	nip	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	socks	sock	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 | **keep** | present | the puppy |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **nip** | gerund | the puppy *not said here* |  |  | my socks |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at sock=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm just nipping out to the corner shop. (UK)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* I'm just nipping out to the corner shop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nipping:x2:1
# text = I'm just nipping out to the corner shop.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	just	just	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	nipping	nip	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	corner	corner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (UK)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nipping:x2:2
# text = (UK)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A crab was nipping at his toe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nipping:x3:1
# text = A crab was nipping at his toe.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crab	crab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	nipping	nip	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	toe	toe	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 | **nip** | past · progressive | a crab |  |  | crab's toe |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at toe=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nipping wind made our ears red.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nipping:x4:1
# text = The nipping wind made our ears red.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	nipping	nip	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nip** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | the nipping wind *not said here* |  |  |  | red *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum is nipping to the post office, back in five minutes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nipping:x5:1
# text = Mum is nipping to the post office, back in five minutes.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	nipping	nip	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	post	post	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	back	back	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nip** | present · progressive | Mum |  |  | the post office |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to office=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop the teasing now and nip it in the bud.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nipping:x6:1
# text = Stop the teasing now and nip it in the bud.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	teasing	teasing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	1	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	nip	nip	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bud	bud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* | the teasing |  |  | now |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality teasing=Eventuality |
| 2 | **nip** | infinitive | you *not said here* | teasing |  | the bud |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location it=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The frost was nipping the young plants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nipping:x7:1
# text = The frost was nipping the young plants.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	frost	frost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	nipping	nip	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nip** | past · progressive | the frost | the young plants |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location plant=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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