---
title: pounce — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pounce» in the school dictionary: To jump suddenly onto something to catch it, like a cat catching a mouse. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pounce

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** cat, She, lion, fox, teacher, my · **What happens:** jump, catch, attack, criticise, pounce, go · **To what, where:** something, it, mouse, mistake, chance, cat

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To jump suddenly onto something to catch it, like a cat catching a mouse.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pounce:m1:1
# text = To jump suddenly onto something to catch it, like a cat catching a mouse.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	jump	jump	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
13	catching	catch	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	acl	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jump** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | something |  | suddenly *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme onto something=Trajectory |
| 2 | **catch** | to-infinitive |  | it |  |  |  | like a cat | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 3 | **catch** | gerund | a cat *not said here* | a mouse |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mouse=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 -->
To quickly attack or criticise a mistake or chance: «She pounced on the chance to go».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pounce:m2:1
# text = To quickly attack or criticise a mistake or chance: «She pounced on the chance to go».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	attack	attack	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	criticise	criticise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	pounced	pounce	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
14	on	on	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attack** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **criticise** | infinitive |  | a mistake or chance |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **pounce** *in a quote* | past | She |  |  | the chance |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on chance=Trajectory |
| 4 | **go** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sudden jump to catch something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pounce:m3:1
# text = A sudden jump to catch something.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	jump	jump	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat pounced on the toy mouse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pounce:x1:1
# text = The cat pounced on the toy mouse.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	pounced	pounce	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pounce** | participle |  | the cat *not said here* |  |  |  | on the toy mouse | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on mouse=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lion crouched, ready to pounce.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pounce:x2:1
# text = The lion crouched, ready to pounce.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lion	lion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	crouched	crouch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	pounce	pounce	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crouch** | past | the lion |  |  |  |  | ready *property* | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **pounce** | to-infinitive | the lion *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox pounced on a vole in the snow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pounce:x3:1
# text = The fox pounced on a vole in the snow.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pounced	pounce	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	vole	vole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pounce** | past | the fox |  |  | a vole |  | in the snow | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on vole=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She pounced on the chance to be in the play.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pounce:x4:1
# text = She pounced on the chance to be in the play.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pounced	pounce	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pounce** | past | She |  |  | the chance |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on chance=Trajectory |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  | the play |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher pounced on my spelling mistake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pounce:x5:1
# text = The teacher pounced on my spelling mistake.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pounced	pounce	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pounce** | past | the teacher |  |  | my spelling mistake |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on mistake=Trajectory |
| 2 | **mistake** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom mistake «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With one pounce, the kitten caught the ribbon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pounce:x6:1
# text = With one pounce, the kitten caught the ribbon.
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	pounce	pounce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	ribbon	ribbon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | the kitten | the ribbon |  |  |  | with one pounce | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ribbon=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a jiffy he pounced upon it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pounce:x7:1
# text = In a jiffy he pounced upon it.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	jiffy	jiffy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	pounced	pounce	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	upon	upon	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	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pounce** | past | he |  |  | a jiffy |  | upon jiffy | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in jiffy=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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