---
title: whirr — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «whirr» in the school dictionary: To make a soft, steady buzzing sound like something spinning fast, such as a fan, a camera or wings. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# whirr

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** We, wings, sewing machine, mind, My, Whirr · **What happens:** make, spin, move, whir, hear, whirr · **To what, where:** soft steady buzzing sound, fan, hot classroom, whirr, old computer, life

<!-- .vabout -->
«whirr» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [whirr in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/whirr.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make a soft, steady buzzing sound like something spinning fast, such as a fan, a camera or wings.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whirr:m1:1
# text = To make a soft, steady buzzing sound like something spinning fast, such as a fan, a camera or wings.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
4	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	buzzing	buzzing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nmod	_	_
11	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	acl	_	_
12	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	17	case	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	fixed	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	fan	fan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	camera	camera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a soft steady buzzing sound |  |  |  | like something | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |
| 2 | **spin** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme 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 -->
That sound.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whirr:m2:1
# text = That sound.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To move fast with such a sound.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whirr:m3:1
# text = To move fast with such a sound.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	7	det:predet	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sound	sound	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 | **move** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with such sound; fast *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fan whirred softly in the hot classroom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whirr:x1:1
# text = The fan whirred softly in the hot classroom.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fan	fan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	whirred	whir	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	classroom	classroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whir** | participle |  | the fan *not said here* |  | the hot classroom |  | softly *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in classroom=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We heard the whirr of the hummingbird's wings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whirr:x2:1
# text = We heard the whirr of the hummingbird's wings.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	whirr	whirr	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hummingbird	hummingbird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | We | the whirr of the hummingbird's wings |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer whirr=Stimulus |
| 2 | **whirr** |  | the hummingbird's wings |  |  |  |  |  | nom whirr «event intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old computer whirred into life.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whirr:x3:1
# text = The old computer whirred into life.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	whirred	whir	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whir** | participle |  | the old computer *not said here* |  | life |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sewing machine whirred as Nan sewed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whirr:x4:1
# text = The sewing machine whirred as Nan sewed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sewing	sewing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	whirred	whir	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Nan	Nan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	sewed	sew	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whir** | participle |  | the sewing machine *not said here* |  |  |  | as Nan | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **sew** | past | the sewing machine |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My mind was whirring with ideas for the story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whirr:x5:1
# text = My mind was whirring with ideas for the story.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	whirring	whir	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whir** | past · progressive | My mind |  |  |  |  | with ideas; for the story | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with idea=Theme |
| 2 | **mind** |  | My |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The drone whirred over the playing field.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whirr:x6:1
# text = The drone whirred over the playing field.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	drone	drone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	whirred	whir	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	playing	playing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whir** | participle |  | the drone *not said here* |  | the playing field |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over field=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Whirr, whirr," went the wheel so quickly that the flax could not collect its thoughts.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whirr:x7:1
# text = "Whirr, whirr," went the wheel so quickly that the flax could not collect its thoughts.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Whirr	Whirr	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	whirr	whirr	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	_
7	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	wheel	wheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
12	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	flax	flax	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
15	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
17	collect	collect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
18	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	thoughts	thought	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | Whirr and whirr | the wheel |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location wheel=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **collect** | could | the flax | flax's thoughts |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thought=Theme |
| 3 | **think** |  | flax |  |  |  |  |  | nom thought «cognition transitive»: poss=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 -->

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