---
title: creek — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «creek» in the school dictionary: A creek is a small stream or narrow river. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# creek

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** creek, sea, We, you, hands · **What happens:** be, come, mean, catch, dry up, moor · **To what, where:** small stream, narrow inlet, land, tadpoles, creek, Boats

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A creek is a small stream or narrow river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creek:m1:1
# text = A creek is a small stream or narrow river.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	creek	creek	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	stream	stream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a creek | a small stream or narrow river |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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: UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A creek is a narrow inlet where the sea or a river comes into the land.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creek:m2:1
# text = A creek is a narrow inlet where the sea or a river comes into the land.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	creek	creek	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	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	inlet	inlet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	13	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
13	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
14	into	into	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	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 creek | a narrow inlet |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **come** | present | the sea or a river |  |  | the land |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme into land=Initial\_Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: idiom, slang — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Up the creek means in trouble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creek:m3:1
# text = Up the creek means in trouble.
1	Up	up	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	creek	creek	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the creek |  |  |  |  | in trouble | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in trouble=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We caught tadpoles in the creek behind the house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creek:x1:1
# text = We caught tadpoles in the creek behind the house.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tadpoles	tadpole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	creek	creek	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | We | tadpoles |  | the creek behind the house |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tadpole=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The creek dries up in summer. (Australia)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* The creek dries up in summer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creek:x2:1
# text = The creek dries up in summer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	creek	creek	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dries	dry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dry up** | present | the creek |  |  |  | summer |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (Australia)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creek:x2:2
# text = (Australia)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Boats were moored in the creek at high tide. (UK)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Boats were moored in the creek at high tide.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creek:x3:1
# text = Boats were moored in the creek at high tide.
1	Boats	boat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	moored	moor	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	creek	creek	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	tide	tide	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 | **moor** | past · passive |  | Boats |  | the creek |  | at high tide | vn pocket-9.10-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in creek=Destination |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (UK)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creek:x3:2
# text = (UK)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't cross the creek after heavy rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creek:x4:1
# text = Don't cross the creek after heavy rain.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	cross	cross	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	creek	creek	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **cross** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the creek |  |  | after heavy rain |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent creek=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If we miss this bus, we're up the creek! (slang)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* If we miss this bus, we're up the creek!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creek:x5:1
# text = If we miss this bus, we're up the creek!
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	miss	miss	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	creek	creek	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **miss** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | we | this bus |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer bus=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | present | we |  |  |  |  | up the creek | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (slang)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creek:x5:2
# text = (slang)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The creek joins the big river near town.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creek:x6:1
# text = The creek joins the big river near town.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	creek	creek	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	joins	join	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	near	near	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | present | the creek | the big river |  | town |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent river=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clapping together their little hands, they chased one another along the edge of the creek.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:creek:x7:1
# text = Clapping together their little hands, they chased one another along the edge of the creek.
1	Clapping	clap	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
2	together	together	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	chased	chase	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	obj	_	_
10	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	fixed	_	_
11	along	along	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	creek	creek	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clap together** | gerund | hands *= hand* *not said here* | their little hands |  |  |  | together *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location hand=Theme |
| 2 | **chase** | past | hands *= hand* | one |  | the edge of the creek |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent one=Theme along edge=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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