---
title: shimmer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shimmer» in the school dictionary: To shimmer is to shine with a soft light that seems to move or shake a little, like light on water. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shimmer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** soft light, shimmer, air, dress, she, gold · **What happens:** shimmer, be, seem, move, shake, waver · **To what, where:** little, soft wavering shine, hot weather, lake, moonlight, road

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To shimmer is to shine with a soft light that seems to move or shake a little, like light on water.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shimmer:m1:1
# text = To shimmer is to shine with a soft light that seems to move or shake a little, like light on water.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	shimmer	shimmer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	shine	shine	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	shake	shake	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	like	like	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
21	on	on	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shimmer** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with a soft light; shine *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **seem** | present | a soft light |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 4 | **move** | to-infinitive | a soft light *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **shake** | infinitive | a soft light *not said here* | a little |  |  |  | like light on water | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent little=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
A shimmer is a soft, wavering shine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shimmer:m2:1
# text = A shimmer is a soft, wavering shine.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shimmer	shimmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	wavering	waver	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	amod	_	_
8	shine	shine	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 | **waver** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a shimmer | a soft wavering shine |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In very hot weather, the air above a road can seem to shimmer.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shimmer:m3:1
# text = In very hot weather, the air above a road can seem to shimmer.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
8	above	above	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	seem	seem	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	shimmer	shimmer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | can | the air above a road |  |  | hot weather |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **shimmer** | to-infinitive | the air above a road *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lake shimmered in the moonlight.

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

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shimmer** | participle |  | the lake *not said here* |  | the moonlight |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in moonlight=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her dress shimmered when she danced.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shimmer:x2:1
# text = Her dress shimmered when she danced.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	dress	dress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shimmered	shimmer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	danced	dance	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shimmer** | past | Her dress |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dance** | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The road shimmered in the summer heat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shimmer:x3:1
# text = The road shimmered in the summer heat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	shimmered	shimmer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	heat	heat	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 | **shimmer** | participle |  | the road *not said here* |  | the summer heat |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in heat=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A shimmer of gold caught my eye in the sand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shimmer:x4:1
# text = A shimmer of gold caught my eye in the sand.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shimmer	shimmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	eye	eye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | a shimmer of gold | my eye |  | the sand |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent eye=Theme |
| 2 | **shimmer** |  | gold |  |  |  |  |  | nom shimmer «event intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fish scales shimmer under water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shimmer:x5:1
# text = Fish scales shimmer under water.
1	Fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	scales	scale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	compound	_	_
3	shimmer	shimmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a shimmer of hope in his eyes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shimmer:x6:1
# text = There was a shimmer of hope in his eyes.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	shimmer	shimmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	hope	hope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a shimmer of hope in shimmer's eyes |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **shimmer** |  | hope in shimmer's eyes |  |  |  |  |  | nom shimmer «event intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fairy's wings shimmered like glass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shimmer:x7:1
# text = The fairy's wings shimmered like glass.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fairy	fairy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	shimmered	shimmer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shimmer** | participle |  | the fairy's wings *not said here* |  |  |  | like glass | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=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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