---
title: creak — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «creak» in the school dictionary: To creak is to make a long, high, squeaking sound, like an old door, a wooden floor or stairs when they move or are walked on. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# creak

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** stairs, creak, old system, old door, I, floorboards · **What happens:** creak, be, squeak, move, walk on, mean · **To what, where:** sound, creak, stairs, gate, storm, me · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To creak is to make a long, high, squeaking sound, like an old door, a wooden floor or stairs when they move or are walked on.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creak:m1:1
# text = To creak is to make a long, high, squeaking sound, like an old door, a wooden floor or stairs when they move or are walked on.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	creak	creak	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	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	squeaking	squeak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	amod	_	_
12	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	conj	_	_
24	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	26	advmod	_	_
25	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	26	nsubj	_	_
26	move	move	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
27	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
28	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	29	aux:pass	_	_
29	walked	walk	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	26	conj	_	_
30	on	on	ADV	RB	_	29	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **creak** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | like a old door  a wooden floor or stairs; make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **squeak** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **move** | present | stairs *= stair* |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **walk on** | present · passive | stairs *= stair* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V» |

<!-- .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 creak is that sound.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creak:m2:1
# text = A creak is that sound.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	creak	creak	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a creak | that sound |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To creak can mean to work badly because of being old or weak: «The old system is creaking».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creak:m3:1
# text = To creak can mean to work badly because of being old or weak: «The old system is creaking».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	creak	creak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	_
8	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	cop	_	_
11	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	advcl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	weak	weak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
19	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
20	creaking	creak	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **creak** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **work** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | old *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **creak** *in a quote* | present · progressive | the old system |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old door creaked open.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creak:x1:1
# text = The old door creaked open.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	creaked	creak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **creak** | past | the old door |  |  |  |  | open *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I heard a creak on the stairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creak:x2:1
# text = I heard a creak on the stairs.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	creak	creak	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | I | a creak |  | the stairs |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer creak=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The floorboards creaked as I tiptoed past.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creak:x3:1
# text = The floorboards creaked as I tiptoed past.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	floorboards	floorboard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	creaked	creak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	tiptoed	tiptoe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	past	past	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **creak** | past | the floorboards |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **tiptoe** | past | I |  |  |  |  | past *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad oiled the gate so it would stop creaking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creak:x4:1
# text = Dad oiled the gate so it would stop creaking.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	oiled	oil	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	gate	gate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	creaking	creak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oil** | past | Dad | the gate |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent gate=Destination |
| 2 | **stop** | would | gate |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **creak** | gerund | gate *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ship's timbers creaked in the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creak:x5:1
# text = The ship's timbers creaked in the storm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	timbers	timber	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	creaked	creak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	storm	storm	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 | **creak** | past | the ship's timbers |  |  | the storm |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in storm=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the dark, every creak made me jump.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creak:x6:1
# text = In the dark, every creak made me jump.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	dark	dark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	creak	creak	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	jump	jump	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | every creak | me |  | the dark |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **jump** | infinitive | me *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whenever the wind blew the Birch-tree creaked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creak:x7:1
# text = Whenever the wind blew the Birch-tree creaked.
1	Whenever	whenever	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	blew	blow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl:relcl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	Birch	birch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
9	creaked	creak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blow** | past | the wind |  |  |  |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **creak** | participle |  | the Birch tree *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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