---
title: creaky — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «creaky» in the school dictionary: Making a long, high, squeaking sound when moved or stepped on: «a creaky door», «creaky stairs». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# creaky

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** creaky stairs, we, old house, Grandad, knees, Dad · **What happens:** make, squeak, move, step on, not work, not put together · **To what, where:** long squeaking sound, date, us, creaky gate, creaky door, ages · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Making a long, high, squeaking sound when moved or stepped on: «a creaky door», «creaky stairs».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creaky:m1:1
# text = Making a long, high, squeaking sound when moved or stepped on: «a creaky door», «creaky stairs».
1	Making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
3	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	squeaking	squeak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	amod	_	_
8	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
10	moved	move	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	stepped	step	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	RP	_	12	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	creaky	creaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
21	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	creaky	creaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund |  | a long squeaking sound |  |  |  | a creaky door and creaky stairs *obl* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |
| 2 | **squeak** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **move** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **step on** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old and not working as well as before: «creaky knees», «a creaky old computer».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creaky:m2:1
# text = Old and not working as well as before: «creaky knees», «a creaky old computer».
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
5	as	as	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADV	4	advmod	_	_
6	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	fixed	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
8	before	before	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	creaky	creaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	knees	knee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
17	creaky	creaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
18	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **work** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of plans or systems — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Weak, out of date or not well put together: «a creaky plan».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creaky:m3:1
# text = Weak, out of date or not well put together: «a creaky plan».
1	Weak	Weak	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	date	date	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	_
9	put	put	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	together	together	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	creaky	creaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **put together** | participle |  | date *not said here* |  |  |  | together, well *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The creaky stairs gave us away when we sneaked down at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creaky:x1:1
# text = The creaky stairs gave us away when we sneaked down at night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	creaky	creaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	away	away	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	sneaked	sneak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
10	down	down	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give away** | past | the creaky stairs |  | us |  |  | away *property* | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent we=Theme |
| 2 | **sneak down** | past | we |  |  |  | night |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old house was full of creaky floorboards.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creaky:x2:1
# text = The old house was full of creaky floorboards.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	creaky	creaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	floorboards	floorboard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the old house |  |  |  |  | of creaky floorboards; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad says his knees are getting creaky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creaky:x3:1
# text = Grandad says his knees are getting creaky.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	knees	knee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	ccomp	_	_
7	creaky	creaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Grandad |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **get** | present · progressive | Grandad's knees |  |  |  |  | creaky *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad oiled the creaky gate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creaky:x4:1
# text = Dad oiled the creaky gate.
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	5	det	_	_
4	creaky	creaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	gate	gate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oil** | past | Dad | the creaky gate |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent gate=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We heard a creaky door open in the dark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creaky:x5:1
# text = We heard a creaky door open in the dark.
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	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	creaky	creaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	dark	dark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our creaky old laptop takes ages to start.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creaky:x6:1
# text = Our creaky old laptop takes ages to start.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	creaky	creaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	laptop	laptop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	ages	age	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | Our creaky old laptop | ages |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent age=Theme |
| 2 | **start** | to-infinitive | Our creaky old laptop *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plan was a bit creaky, but it worked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creaky:x7:1
# text = The plan was a bit creaky, but it worked.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	creaky	creaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the plan |  |  |  |  | a bit *obl:unmarked*; creaky *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | past | plan |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «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 -->

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