---
title: nippy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nippy» in the school dictionary: Nippy means cold, especially with a sharp, biting chill: a nippy morning. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nippy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Nippy, you, it, wind, new car, She · **What happens:** mean, bite, move, describe, nip, wrap up · **To what, where:** dog, beach, traffic, nippy little player, tackle, desert · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«nippy» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [nippy in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nippy.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nippy means cold, especially with a sharp, biting chill: a nippy morning.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nippy:m1:1
# text = Nippy means cold, especially with a sharp, biting chill: a nippy morning.
1	Nippy	nippy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
5	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
8	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
10	biting	bite	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	amod	_	_
11	chill	chill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	nippy	nippy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Nippy |  |  |  |  | cold *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **bite** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nippy means quick and lively, able to move fast: a nippy little car.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nippy:m2:1
# text = Nippy means quick and lively, able to move fast: a nippy little car.
1	Nippy	nippy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	lively	lively	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
13	nippy	nippy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
14	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Nippy |  |  |  |  | quick *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **move** | to-infinitive | Nippy *not said here* |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nippy describes a dog likely to nip or bite.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nippy:m3:1
# text = Nippy describes a dog likely to nip or bite.
1	Nippy	Nippy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	describes	describe	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	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	nip	nip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	bite	bite	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | Nippy | a dog |  |  |  | likely *property* | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent dog=Theme |
| 2 | **nip** | to-infinitive | Nippy *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **bite** | infinitive | Nippy *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wrap up warm, it's a bit nippy this morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nippy:x1:1
# text = Wrap up warm, it's a bit nippy this morning.
1	Wrap	wrap	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	nippy	nippy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	parataxis	_	_
10	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wrap up** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | warm *property* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | it |  |  |  | morning | a bit *obl:unmarked*; nippy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wind was nippy on the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nippy:x2:1
# text = The wind was nippy on the beach.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	nippy	nippy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	beach	beach	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 | **is** | past | the wind |  |  | the beach |  | nippy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our new car is small and nippy in traffic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nippy:x3:1
# text = Our new car is small and nippy in traffic.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	nippy	nippy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Our new car |  |  | traffic |  | small *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Our new car *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She's a nippy little player who dodges every tackle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nippy:x4:1
# text = She's a nippy little player who dodges every tackle.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	nippy	nippy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	dodges	dodge	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	tackle	tackle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | She | a nippy little player |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dodge** | present | a nippy little player | every tackle |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent tackle=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That terrier can be nippy with strangers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nippy:x5:1
# text = That terrier can be nippy with strangers.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	terrier	terrier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	nippy	nippy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	strangers	stranger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | that terrier |  |  |  |  | with strangers; nippy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It gets nippy at night in the desert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nippy:x6:1
# text = It gets nippy at night in the desert.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	nippy	nippy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	desert	desert	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 | **get** | present | It |  |  | the desert | night | nippy *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“You’re so nippy at it,” John said, “couldn’t you do it very slowly once?”

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nippy:x7:1
# text = “You’re so nippy at it,” John said, “couldn’t you do it very slowly once?”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	’re	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	ccomp	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	nippy	nippy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
10	John	John	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	n’t	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	ccomp	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	_
19	very	very	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
21	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	17	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** *in a quote* | present | You | nippy |  |  |  |  | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot nippy=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: ask* | past | John |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **do** *in a quote* | could | you | it |  |  |  | once *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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