---
title: waffle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «waffle» in the school dictionary: A waffle is a crisp flat cake made of batter, cooked in a hot iron that gives it a grid of little squares. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# waffle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** waffle, hot iron, long talk, your, We, Belgian waffles · **What happens:** be, make, cook, give, say, waffle · **To what, where:** crisp flat cake, waffle, long talk, little, much, anything · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«waffle» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [waffle in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/waffle.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A waffle is a crisp flat cake made of batter, cooked in a hot iron that gives it a grid of little squares.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waffle:m1:1
# text = A waffle is a crisp flat cake made of batter, cooked in a hot iron that gives it a grid of little squares.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	waffle	waffle	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	crisp	crisp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	batter	batter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	cooked	cook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	acl:relcl	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	grid	grid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	squares	square	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a waffle | a crisp flat cake |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a crisp flat cake *not said here* |  |  |  | of batter | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **cook** | participle | a waffle *not said here* |  |  |  |  | in a hot iron | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V PP.result PP.instrument»: agent=Patient in iron=Instrument |
| 4 | **give** | present | a hot iron | waffle |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent it=Recipient grid=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: UK, informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Waffle is long talk or writing that says very little.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waffle:m2:1
# text = Waffle is long talk or writing that says very little.
1	Waffle	waffle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Waffle | long talk or writing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | long talk or writing | little |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent little=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To waffle is to talk or write too much without saying anything useful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waffle:m3:1
# text = To waffle is to talk or write too much without saying anything useful.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	waffle	waffle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	too	too	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	obj	_	_
10	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
12	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	_
13	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **waffle** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | talk *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **write** | infinitive |  | much |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent much=Theme |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | anything |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent anything=Topic |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To waffle is to keep changing your mind and not decide.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waffle:m4:1
# text = To waffle is to keep changing your mind and not decide.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	waffle	waffle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	decide	decide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **waffle** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | keep *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **change** | gerund |  | your mind |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mind=Patient |
| 4 | **not** **decide** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **mind** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had waffles with maple syrup for breakfast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waffle:x1:1
# text = We had waffles with maple syrup for breakfast.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	waffles	waffle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	maple	maple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	syrup	syrup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	breakfast	breakfast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We | waffles |  |  |  | with maple syrup for breakfast | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent waffle=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Belgian waffles are thick and soft inside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waffle:x2:1
# text = Belgian waffles are thick and soft inside.
1	Belgian	Belgian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	waffles	waffle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Belgian waffles |  |  |  |  | inside, thick *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Belgian waffles *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My teacher said my essay was full of waffle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waffle:x3:1
# text = My teacher said my essay was full of waffle.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	waffle	waffle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | My teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | my essay |  |  |  |  | of waffle; full *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **essay** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom essay «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop waffling and answer the question!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waffle:x4:1
# text = Stop waffling and answer the question!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	waffling	waffle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	answer	answer	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **waffle** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **answer** *speech: assert* | infinitive | you *not said here* | the question |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent question=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He waffled on for ages about his holiday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waffle:x5:1
# text = He waffled on for ages about his holiday.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	waffled	waffle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	ages	age	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	holiday	holiday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **waffle on** | past | He |  |  |  | for ages | about his holiday | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mayor waffled about whether to close the park.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waffle:x6:1
# text = The mayor waffled about whether to close the park.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mayor	mayor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	waffled	waffle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	close	close	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **waffle** | past | the mayor |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **close** | to-infinitive | the mayor *not said here* | the park |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent park=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The waffle iron leaves a pattern of squares.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waffle:x7:1
# text = The waffle iron leaves a pattern of squares.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	waffle	waffle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	leaves	leave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	squares	square	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | present | the waffle iron | a pattern of squares |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pattern=Theme |
| 2 | **pattern** |  | squares |  |  |  |  |  | nom pattern «cognition intransitive»: of=agent |

<!-- 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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