---
title: spill — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spill» in the school dictionary: To spill means to let a liquid or small pieces fall out of a container by accident. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spill

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small pieces, spill, secret, I, you, someone · **What happens:** spill, mean, let, fall, be, come out · **To what, where:** liquid, container, stuff, edge, crowds, street · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«spill» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [spill in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spill.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To spill means to let a liquid or small pieces fall out of a container by accident.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spill:m1:1
# text = To spill means to let a liquid or small pieces fall out of a container by accident.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	spill	spill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	liquid	liquid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	fall	fall	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
12	out	out	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	container	container	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
16	by	by	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spill** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **let** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | a liquid |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent liquid=Theme |
| 4 | **fall** | present | small pieces | a liquid *not said here* |  | a container by accident |  |  | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient liquid=Result |

<!-- .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 spill is liquid or stuff that has been spilled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spill:m2:1
# text = A spill is liquid or stuff that has been spilled.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spill	spill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	liquid	liquid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	stuff	stuff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	spilled	spill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a spill |  |  |  |  | liquid *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **spill** | present · perfect · passive |  | stuff |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To spill also means to come out over the edge: «crowds spilled into the street».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spill:m3:1
# text = To spill also means to come out over the edge: «crowds spilled into the street».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	spill	spill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
7	out	out	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	over	over	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	crowds	crowd	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	appos	_	_
14	spilled	spill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	acl	_	_
15	into	into	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spill** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **come out** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | the edge |  | out *property* | vn become-109.1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **spill** *in a quote* | participle |  | crowds *not said here* |  | the street |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into street=Location |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Spill the beans» means to tell a secret.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spill:m4:1
# text = «Spill the beans» means to tell a secret.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Spill	spill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	beans	bean	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	secret	secret	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 | **spill** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | the beans |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location bean=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a secret |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oops, I spilled my juice on the table!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spill:x1:1
# text = Oops, I spilled my juice on the table!
1	Oops	oops	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	spilled	spill	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	juice	juice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	table	table	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 | **spill** | past | I | my juice |  | the table |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location juice=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wipe up that spill before someone slips.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spill:x2:1
# text = Wipe up that spill before someone slips.
1	Wipe	wipe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	spill	spill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	_
7	slips	slip	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wipe up** | imperative | you *not said here* | that spill |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent spill=Source |
| 2 | **slip** | present | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Carry your cup carefully so it doesn't spill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spill:x3:1
# text = Carry your cup carefully so it doesn't spill.
1	Carry	carry	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	cup	cup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	spill	spill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | imperative | you *not said here* | your cup |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cup=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **spill** | present · do-support | cup |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hot tea spilled on his hand and burned him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spill:x4:1
# text = Hot tea spilled on his hand and burned him.
1	Hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	spilled	spill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	burned	burn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spill** | participle |  | Hot tea *not said here* |  | his hand |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on hand=Location |
| 2 | **burn** | past |  | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent he=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The oil spill hurt many seabirds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spill:x5:1
# text = The oil spill hurt many seabirds.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	oil	oil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	spill	spill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	seabirds	seabird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hurt** | past | the oil spill | many seabirds |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer seabird=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rice spilled all over the floor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spill:x6:1
# text = Rice spilled all over the floor.
1	Rice	Rice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spilled	spill	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	all	all	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spill** | past | Rice | the floor |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location floor=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Come on, spill the beans, who is it?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spill:x7:1
# text = Come on, spill the beans, who is it?
1	Come	come	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	on	on	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	spill	spill	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	beans	bean	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come on** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **spill** | infinitive |  | the beans |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location bean=Theme |
| 3 | **is a** | present | the beans | it |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't cry over spilt milk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spill:x8:1
# text = Don't cry over spilt milk.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	cry	cry	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	spilt	spilt	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **cry over** *speech: express* | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | spilt milk |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent milk=Topic |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The water was all spilled upon the ground.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spill:x9:1
# text = The water was all spilled upon the ground.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	all	all	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	spilled	spill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spill** | past · passive |  | the water |  |  |  | upon the ground; all *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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