---
title: snips — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «snips» in the school dictionary: Verb: he/she snips — cuts something with small quick cuts of scissors. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# snips

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** he/she, strong shears, It, She, barber, you · **What happens:** snip, cut, cut off, call, be, make · **To what, where:** Verb, something, small pieces, sheet metal, tin snips, snip · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Verb: he/she snips — cuts something with small quick cuts of scissors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snips:m1:1
# text = Verb: he/she snips — cuts something with small quick cuts of scissors.
1	Verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
3	he/she	he/she	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	snips	snip	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
6	cuts	cut	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	cuts	cut	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	scissors	scissors	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snip** | present | he/she | Verb |  |  |  |  | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **cut** | present | he/she *not said here* | something |  |  |  | with small quick cuts of scissors | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient with cut=Instrument |

<!-- .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 -->
Noun plural: small quick cuts, or small pieces cut off.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snips:m2:1
# text = Noun plural: small quick cuts, or small pieces cut off.
1	Noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	plural	plural	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cuts	cut	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	appos	_	_
11	cut	cut	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	off	off	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut off** | participle |  | small pieces *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Snips (plural tool): strong shears for cutting sheet metal, also called tin snips.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snips:m3:1
# text = Snips (plural tool): strong shears for cutting sheet metal, also called tin snips.
1	Snips	snip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	plural	plural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	shears	shear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
9	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	cutting	cut	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
11	sheet	sheet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	also	also	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
16	tin	tin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	snips	snip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** | gerund | strong shears *not said here* | sheet metal |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset metal=Product |
| 2 | **call** | participle | strong shears *not said here* | tin snips |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«A snip»: a real bargain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snips:m4:1
# text = «A snip»: a real bargain.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	snip	snip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	bargain	bargain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's a snip at £5.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snips:m4e:1
# text = It's a snip at £5.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	snip	snip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	£	£	SYM	$	_	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a snip |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She snips the ribbon with her scissors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snips:x1:1
# text = She snips the ribbon with her scissors.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	snips	snip	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	ribbon	ribbon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	scissors	scissors	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snip** | present | She | the ribbon |  |  |  | with her scissors | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ribbon=Patient with scissors=Instrument |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The barber snips around my ears.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snips:x2:1
# text = The barber snips around my ears.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	barber	barber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	snips	snip	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	around	around	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snip** | present | the barber |  |  | my ears |  |  | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Make two snips at the top of the paper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snips:x3:1
# text = Make two snips at the top of the paper.
1	Make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	snips	snip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | imperative | you *not said here* | two snips |  | the top of the paper |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset snip=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad used tin snips to cut the metal sheet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snips:x4:1
# text = Dad used tin snips to cut the metal sheet.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tin	tin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	snips	snip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	cut	cut	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	sheet	sheet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Dad | tin snips |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent snip=Patient |
| 2 | **cut** | to-infinitive | Dad *not said here* | the metal sheet |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sheet=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Snips of paper covered the floor after art.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snips:x5:1
# text = Snips of paper covered the floor after art.
1	Snips	snip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	covered	cover	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cover** | past | Snips of paper | the floor |  |  | after art |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme floor=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That coat was a snip at half price!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snips:x6:1
# text = That coat was a snip at half price!
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	snip	snip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	half	half	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	8	amod	_	_
8	price	price	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | that coat | a snip |  | half price |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Snips and snails and puppy-dogs' tails» is an old rhyme.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snips:x7:1
# text = «Snips and snails and puppy-dogs' tails» is an old rhyme.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Snips	snip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	snails	snail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
6	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	'	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	tails	tail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	rhyme	rhyme	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Snips and snails and puppy dogs's tails | a old rhyme |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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