---
title: swoop — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «swoop» in the school dictionary: To swoop means to fly or move down quickly and suddenly through the air, usually to catch something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swoop/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/) / swoop

# swoop

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** swoop, one, owl, magpies, seagull, swallows · **What happens:** swoop, mean, fly, move down, catch, be · **To what, where:** air, something, quick downward rush, swoop, mouse, cyclists · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«swoop» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [swoop in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/swoop.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To swoop means to fly or move down quickly and suddenly through the air, usually to catch something.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swoop:m1:1
# text = To swoop means to fly or move down quickly and suddenly through the air, usually to catch something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	swoop	swoop	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	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	down	down	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	9	conj	_	_
12	through	through	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
19	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swoop** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **fly** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **move down** | infinitive |  |  |  | the air |  | quickly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme through air=Trajectory |
| 5 | **catch** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=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 swoop is a quick downward rush, or a sudden attack or raid.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swoop:m2:1
# text = A swoop is a quick downward rush, or a sudden attack or raid.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	swoop	swoop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	downward	downward	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	rush	rush	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	raid	raid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«In one fell swoop» means all at once.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swoop:m3:1
# text = «In one fell swoop» means all at once.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nsubj	_	_
4	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	nsubj	_	_
5	swoop	swoop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	all	all	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** *in a quote* | past | one | swoop |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient swoop=Result |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | once *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The owl swooped down and caught a mouse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swoop:x1:1
# text = The owl swooped down and caught a mouse.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	owl	owl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swooped	swoop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swoop down** | past | the owl |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **catch** | past | the owl *not said here* | a mouse |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mouse=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In spring, magpies swoop on cyclists near their nests.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swoop:x2:1
# text = In spring, magpies swoop on cyclists near their nests.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	magpies	magpie	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	swoop	swoop	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	cyclists	cyclist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
8	near	near	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	nests	nest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swoop** | present | magpies |  |  | cyclists near magpies's nests | spring |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A seagull swooped and stole my chip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swoop:x3:1
# text = A seagull swooped and stole my chip.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	seagull	seagull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swooped	swoop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	stole	steal	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	chip	chip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swoop** | past | a seagull |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **steal** | past | a seagull *not said here* | my chip |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location chip=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The swallows swooped low over the pond.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swoop:x4:1
# text = The swallows swooped low over the pond.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	swallows	swallow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swooped	swoop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	low	low	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pond	pond	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 | **swoop** | past | the swallows |  |  | the pond |  | low *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Police swooped on the thieves at dawn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swoop:x5:1
# text = Police swooped on the thieves at dawn.
1	Police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	swooped	swoop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|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	thieves	thief	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	dawn	dawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swoop** | past | Police |  |  | the thieves | dawn |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum swooped in and picked up the crying toddler.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swoop:x6:1
# text = Mum swooped in and picked up the crying toddler.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	swooped	swoop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	picked	pick	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	crying	cry	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	amod	_	_
9	toddler	toddler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swoop in** | past | Mum |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pick up** | participle | Mum *not said here* | the crying toddler |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent toddler=Topic |
| 3 | **cry** *speech: express* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He cleared the table in one fell swoop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swoop:x7:1
# text = He cleared the table in one fell swoop.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cleared	clear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nsubj	_	_
7	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	swoop	swoop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clear** | past | He | the table |  |  |  |  | vn clear-10.3-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent table=Source |
| 2 | **fall** | past | one | swoop |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient swoop=Result |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He had hardly spoken, before the hawk swooped down and knocked the cup from his hand.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swoop:x8:1
# text = He had hardly spoken, before the hawk swooped down and knocked the cup from his hand.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	spoken	speak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hawk	hawk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	swooped	swoop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
10	down	down	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	knocked	knock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	cup	cup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	from	from	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past · perfect | He |  |  |  |  | hardly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **swoop down** | past | the hawk |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **knock** | past | the hawk *not said here* | the cup |  |  |  | from hawk's hand | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent cup=Patient from hand=Co-Patient |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [swooning](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swooning/)
- next →: [swoosh](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swoosh/)
- ↑ back to [S in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/)