---
title: whistle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «whistle» in the school dictionary: A whistle is a small object you blow into to make a loud, high sound. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# whistle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** whistle, you, high sound, referee, He, Three blasts · **What happens:** be, blow, make, whistle, mean, come back · **To what, where:** small object, loud high sound, high sound, small gap, tune, air · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A whistle is a small object you blow into to make a loud, high sound.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whistle:m1:1
# text = A whistle is a small object you blow into to make a loud, high sound.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	whistle	whistle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	object	object	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	blow	blow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	obl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
13	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
15	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a whistle | a small object |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **blow** | present | you | a small object *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent object=Patient |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a loud high sound |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |

<!-- .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 whistle is the high sound made by blowing through a small gap or by a kettle, a bird or the wind.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whistle:m2:1
# text = A whistle is the high sound made by blowing through a small gap or by a kettle, a bird or the wind.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	whistle	whistle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	blowing	blow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
10	through	through	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	gap	gap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	by	by	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	kettle	kettle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a whistle | the high sound |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | the high sound *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **blow** | gerund |  |  |  | a small gap or a kettle |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To whistle means to make a tune or high sound by blowing air through your lips or a whistle.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whistle:m3:1
# text = To whistle means to make a tune or high sound by blowing air through your lips or a whistle.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	whistle	whistle	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	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	tune	tune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
11	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	blowing	blow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	acl	_	_
13	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
14	through	through	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	lips	lip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	whistle	whistle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whistle** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | a tune or high sound |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset tune=Product |
| 4 | **blow** | gerund | high sound *not said here* | air |  | your lips or a whistle |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent air=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The referee blew the whistle for half-time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whistle:x1:1
# text = The referee blew the whistle for half-time.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	referee	referee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	blew	blow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	whistle	whistle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blow** | past | the referee | the whistle |  |  | time |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent whistle=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you whistle a tune?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whistle:x2:1
# text = Can you whistle a tune?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	whistle	whistle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tune	tune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whistle** | can | you | a tune |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tune=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He whistled for his dog to come back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whistle:x3:1
# text = He whistled for his dog to come back.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	whistled	whistle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	back	back	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whistle** | past | He |  |  |  |  | for his dog | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.recipient S\_INF»: agent=Agent for dog=Recipient |
| 2 | **come back** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Three blasts on a whistle means you need help.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whistle:x4:1
# text = Three blasts on a whistle means you need help.
1	Three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	blasts	blast	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	whistle	whistle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
9	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Three blasts on a whistle |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **need** | present | you | help |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot help=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kettle whistled when the water boiled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whistle:x5:1
# text = The kettle whistled when the water boiled.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kettle	kettle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	whistled	whistle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	boiled	boil	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whistle** | past | the kettle |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **boil** | participle · passive |  | the water |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wind whistled through the trees.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whistle:x6:1
# text = The wind whistled through the trees.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	whistled	whistle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whistle** | past | the wind |  |  | the trees |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through tree=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our lifejackets each have a whistle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whistle:x7:1
# text = Our lifejackets each have a whistle.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	lifejackets	lifejacket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	advmod	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	whistle	whistle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Our lifejackets | a whistle |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent whistle=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whereupon he went off indoors, whistling cheerfully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whistle:x8:1
# text = Whereupon he went off indoors, whistling cheerfully.
1	Whereupon	whereupon	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	off	off	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	indoors	indoors	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	whistling	whistle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	cheerfully	cheerfully	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go off** | past | he |  |  |  |  | indoors, whereupon *property* | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **whistle** | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  | cheerfully *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=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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