---
title: tomboy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tomboy» in the school dictionary: A tomboy is a girl who likes doing things that people used to think were only for boys, such as climbing trees, rough games and football, and often prefers jeans to dresses. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tomboy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tomboy, girl, people, girls, Maddie, Mum · **What happens:** be, like, do, use, think, climb · **To what, where:** girl, things, jeans, It, ladylike way, tomboy · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«tomboy» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [tomboy in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tomboy.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tomboy is a girl who likes doing things that people used to think were only for boys, such as climbing trees, rough games and football, and often prefers jeans to dresses.

<!-- fold The tree, 32 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tomboy:m1:1
# text = A tomboy is a girl who likes doing things that people used to think were only for boys, such as climbing trees, rough games and football, and often prefers jeans to dresses.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tomboy	tomboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	obj	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
16	only	only	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
20	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	23	case	_	_
21	as	as	ADP	IN	_	20	fixed	_	_
22	climbing	climb	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	23	amod	_	_
23	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
25	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
26	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	_
27	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
28	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
30	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	32	cc	_	_
31	often	often	ADV	RB	_	32	advmod	_	_
32	prefers	prefer	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
33	jeans	jeans	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	32	obj	_	_
34	to	to	ADP	IN	_	35	case	_	_
35	dresses	dress	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	32	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tomboy | a girl |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **like** | present | a girl |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **do** *not said to happen* | gerund | a girl *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 4 | **use** | past | people | things |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent that=Theme clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **think** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **is** | past |  |  |  |  |  | for boys and climbing trees and rough games and football | tree rules |
| 7 | **climb** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 8 | **prefer** | present | a tomboy *not said here* | jeans |  |  |  | to dresses; often *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer jeans=Stimulus |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was once used as a criticism of girls who did not behave in a "ladylike" way.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tomboy:m2:1
# text = It was once used as a criticism of girls who did not behave in a "ladylike" way.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	4	advmod	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	criticism	criticism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	girls	girl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
11	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	behave	behave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl:relcl	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
16	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	ladylike	ladylike	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	_
19	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past · passive |  | It |  |  |  | as a criticism of girls; once *property* | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Duration as criticism=Attribute |
| 2 | **not** **behave** | past · do-support | girls |  |  | a ladylike way |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maddie is a tomboy who loves football and climbing trees.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tomboy:x1:1
# text = Maddie is a tomboy who loves football and climbing trees.
1	Maddie	Maddie	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	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	tomboy	tomboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	loves	love	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	climbing	climb	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	amod	_	_
10	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Maddie | a tomboy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **love** | present | a tomboy | football and climbing trees |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer football=Stimulus |
| 3 | **climb** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum says she was a tomboy as a girl.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tomboy:x2:1
# text = Mum says she was a tomboy as a girl.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	tomboy	tomboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Mum |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Mum | a tomboy |  |  |  | as a girl | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being a tomboy doesn't mean she can't like painting too.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tomboy:x3:1
# text = Being a tomboy doesn't mean she can't like painting too.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	tomboy	tomboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	csubj	_	_
4	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	like	like	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
11	painting	paint	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	_
12	too	too	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | gerund |  | a tomboy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **mean** | present · do-support |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **not** **like** | can | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 4 | **paint** *not said to happen* | gerund | she *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tomboy in the story beat all the boys in the race.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tomboy:x4:1
# text = The tomboy in the story beat all the boys in the race.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tomboy	tomboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	beat	beat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	9	det:predet	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beat** | past | the tomboy in the story | all boys |  |  |  | in the race | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent boy=Patient in race=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She hated dresses and called herself a proud tomboy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tomboy:x5:1
# text = She hated dresses and called herself a proud tomboy.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hated	hate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	dresses	dress	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	herself	herself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	5	obj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	proud	proud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	tomboy	tomboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hate** | past | She | dresses |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer dress=Stimulus |
| 2 | **call** | past | She *not said here* | herself *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent herself=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some kids teased her for being a tomboy, but she didn't care.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tomboy:x6:1
# text = Some kids teased her for being a tomboy, but she didn't care.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	teased	tease	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tomboy	tomboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	care	care	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tease** | past | some kids | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | for a tomboy | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **care** | past · do-support | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She had a short, tomboyish haircut.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tomboy:x7:1
# text = She had a short, tomboyish haircut.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	tomboyish	tomboyish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	haircut	haircut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | She | a short tomboyish haircut |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent haircut=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 -->

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