Ergative-verb Definition
noun
(linguistics) An ambitransitive verb where the patient is the object of the , but becomes the experiencer of the intransitive use.
Break is an ergative verb because when we say "The window broke", the window is the thing getting broken, it is not the vandal.
Although it is both transitive and intransitive, paint is not an ergative verb, because when we say "Bob paints", this is very different from when we say "Bob gets painted".
Wiktionary
Other Word Forms of Ergative-verb
Noun
Singular:
ergative-verb
Plural:
ergative-verbs
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