---
title: squib — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «squib» in the school dictionary: A small firework that burns with a hissing sound and then bangs. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# squib

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small firework, short funny piece, party, nobody, squib, you · **What happens:** burn, hiss, bang, expect, be, turn out · **To what, where:** disappointment, someone, damp squib, firework, big final, squib · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«squib» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [squib in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/squib.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small firework that burns with a hissing sound and then bangs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squib:m1:1
# text = A small firework that burns with a hissing sound and then bangs.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	firework	firework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	burns	burn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	hissing	hiss	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	amod	_	_
9	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	12	advmod	_	_
12	bangs	bang	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **burn** | present | a small firework |  |  |  |  | with a hissing sound | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with sound=Theme |
| 2 | **hiss** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **bang** | present | a small firework *not said here* |  |  |  | then |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
«A damp squib» (UK): something expected to be exciting that turns out to be a disappointment.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squib:m2:1
# text = «A damp squib» (UK): something expected to be exciting that turns out to be a disappointment.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	squib	squib	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	conj	_	_
11	expected	expect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
13	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	cop	_	_
14	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	_
15	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
16	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
17	out	out	ADP	RP	_	16	compound:prt	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
19	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	cop	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	disappointment	disappointment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **expect** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | exciting *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **turn out** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **is a** | to-infinitive |  | a disappointment |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A short funny or sharp piece of writing that mocks someone (old use).

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squib:m3:1
# text = A short funny or sharp piece of writing that mocks someone (old use).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
2	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
3	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	mocks	mock	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	_
12	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mock** | present | a short funny piece of writing | someone |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A coward or weakling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squib:m4:1
# text = A coward or weakling.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coward	coward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	weakling	weakling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The party was a damp squib — nobody came.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squib:x1:1
# text = The party was a damp squib — nobody came.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	squib	squib	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	9	nsubj	_	_
9	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the party | a damp squib |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **come** | past | nobody | a damp squib *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location squib=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The squib fizzed and popped.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squib:x2:1
# text = The squib fizzed and popped.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	squib	squib	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fizzed	fizz	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	popped	pop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fizz** | past | the squib |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_modes\_being-47.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **pop** | past | the squib *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never pick up a firework or a squib that hasn't gone off.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squib:x3:1
# text = Never pick up a firework or a squib that hasn't gone off.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	pick	pick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	firework	firework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	squib	squib	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
10	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	gone	go	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	8	acl:relcl	_	_
13	off	off	ADP	RP	_	12	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **pick up** | imperative | you *not said here* | a firework or a squib |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent firework=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **go off** | present · perfect | a squib |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The big final turned out to be a damp squib.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squib:x4:1
# text = The big final turned out to be a damp squib.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	final	final	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	turned	turn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	squib	squib	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn out** | participle |  | the big final *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | to-infinitive |  | a damp squib |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(Australia) Come on, don't be a squib, jump in the pool!

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squib:x5:1
# text = (Australia) Come on, don't be a squib, jump in the pool!
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Come	come	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	squib	squib	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	jump	jump	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come on** | infinitive | Australia |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **do** | infinitive | Australia *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **is a** | infinitive |  | a squib |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **jump** | infinitive | Australia *not said here* |  |  | the pool |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in pool=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"No you don't," said the dragon in a spluttering voice, like a damp squib.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squib:x6:1
# text = "No you don't," said the dragon in a spluttering voice, like a damp squib.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	4	discourse	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	spluttering	spluttering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	squib	squib	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **do** *in a quote* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the dragon |  |  | a spluttering voice and a damp squib |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in voice=Manner |

<!-- 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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