---
title: waddle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «waddle» in the school dictionary: To walk with short steps, swaying from side to side, like a duck or penguin. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# waddle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** swaying walk, ducks, Penguins, toddler, I, goose · **What happens:** walk, sway, waddle down, waddle, slide, honk · **To what, where:** side, pond, ice, bellies, big snowsuit, ducklings · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To walk with short steps, swaying from side to side, like a duck or penguin.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waddle:m1:1
# text = To walk with short steps, swaying from side to side, like a duck or penguin.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	walk	walk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	swaying	sway	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	duck	duck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	penguin	penguin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with short steps | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **sway** | gerund |  |  |  | side |  | to side; like a duck or penguin | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A swaying walk like this: the toddler walked with a funny waddle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waddle:m2:1
# text = A swaying walk like this: the toddler walked with a funny waddle.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	swaying	sway	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	walk	walk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	toddler	toddler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	waddle	waddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sway** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **walk** | past | a swaying walk like this |  |  |  |  | with a funny waddle | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ducks waddled down to the pond.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waddle:x1:1
# text = The ducks waddled down to the pond.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	waddled	waddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	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 | **waddle down** | past | the ducks |  |  | the pond |  | down *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to pond=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Penguins waddle across the ice, then slide on their bellies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waddle:x2:1
# text = Penguins waddle across the ice, then slide on their bellies.
1	Penguins	penguin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	waddle	waddle	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	across	across	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	8	advmod	_	_
8	slide	slide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	bellies	belly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **waddle** | present | Penguins |  |  | the ice |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across ice=Trajectory |
| 2 | **slide** | infinitive | Penguins *not said here* |  |  | Penguins's bellies | then |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on belly=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The toddler waddled after the ball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waddle:x3:1
# text = The toddler waddled after the ball.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	toddler	toddler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	waddled	waddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **waddle** | past | the toddler |  |  |  | after the ball |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In my big snowsuit I could only waddle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waddle:x4:1
# text = In my big snowsuit I could only waddle.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	snowsuit	snowsuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	waddle	waddle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **waddle** | could | I |  |  | my big snowsuit |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in snowsuit=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The goose waddled towards us and honked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waddle:x5:1
# text = The goose waddled towards us and honked.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goose	goose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	waddled	waddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	towards	towards	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	honked	honk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **waddle** | past | the goose |  |  |  |  | towards us | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme towards we=Destination |
| 2 | **honk** | past | the goose *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A row of ducklings waddled behind their mother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waddle:x6:1
# text = A row of ducklings waddled behind their mother.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	row	row	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	ducklings	duckling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	waddled	waddle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **waddle** | participle |  | ducklings *not said here* |  |  |  | behind ducklings's mother | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme behind mother=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fat old cat waddled to its bowl.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waddle:x7:1
# text = The fat old cat waddled to its bowl.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	fat	fat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	waddled	waddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	bowl	bowl	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 | **waddle** | past | the fat old cat |  |  | cat's bowl |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to bowl=Destination |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When it had said this the duck waddled off again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waddle:x8:1
# text = When it had said this the duck waddled off again.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
5	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	obj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	duck	duck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	waddled	waddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	off	off	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	again	again	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past · perfect | it | this |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent this=Topic |
| 2 | **waddle off** | past | the duck |  |  |  | again |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=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 -->

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