---
title: flaky — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flaky» in the school dictionary: Flaky means breaking off easily into thin, flat pieces called flakes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flaky

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Flaky, thin flat pieces, Flaky skin, flaky person, they, Something · **What happens:** mean, break off, call, be, come off, forget · **To what, where:** thin flat pieces, flakes, small bits, things, plans, some · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«flaky» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [flaky in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/flaky.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flaky means breaking off easily into thin, flat pieces called flakes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaky:m1:1
# text = Flaky means breaking off easily into thin, flat pieces called flakes.
1	Flaky	flaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	off	off	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
11	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	flakes	flake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Flaky |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **break off** *not said to happen* | gerund | Flaky *not said here* |  |  |  |  | into thin flat pieces *result*; easily *property* | vn break-45.1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Patient into piece=Result |
| 3 | **call** | participle | thin flat pieces *not said here* | flakes |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Flaky skin is dry and comes off in small bits.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaky:m2:1
# text = Flaky skin is dry and comes off in small bits.
1	Flaky	flaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	off	off	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	bits	bit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Flaky skin |  |  |  |  | dry *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **come off** | present | Flaky skin *not said here* |  |  | small bits |  |  | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in bit=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A flaky person is unreliable: they forget things or cancel plans.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaky:m3:1
# text = A flaky person is unreliable: they forget things or cancel plans.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	flaky	flaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	unreliable	unreliable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	forget	forget	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	cancel	cancel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
12	plans	plan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a flaky person |  |  |  |  | unreliable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **forget** | present | they | things |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **cancel** | present | they *not said here* | plans |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something flaky, like a wifi connection or a computer program, works only some of the time.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaky:m4:1
# text = Something flaky, like a wifi connection or a computer program, works only some of the time.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	nsubj	_	_
2	flaky	flaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	wifi	wifi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	connection	connection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	program	program	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
13	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	only	only	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present | Something | some |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent some=Material |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sausage rolls were made with flaky pastry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaky:x1:1
# text = The sausage rolls were made with flaky pastry.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sausage	sausage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	rolls	roll	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	flaky	flaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	pastry	pastry	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 | **make** | past · passive |  | the sausage rolls |  |  |  | with flaky pastry | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old paint on the gate was flaky.

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

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the old paint on the gate |  |  |  |  | flaky *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My lips get flaky in winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaky:x3:1
# text = My lips get flaky in winter.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	lips	lip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	flaky	flaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | My lips |  |  |  |  | flaky *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't rely on Jake — he's a bit flaky and always cancels.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaky:x4:1
# text = Don't rely on Jake — he's a bit flaky and always cancels.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	rely	rely	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Jake	Jake	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl:unmarked	_	_
11	flaky	flaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	14	advmod	_	_
14	cancels	cancel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **rely** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | on Jake | vn rely-70 «NP V PP.theme S\_ING»: agent=Agent on jake=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | Jake |  |  |  |  | a bit *obl:unmarked*; flaky *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wifi is flaky in the garden.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaky:x5:1
# text = The wifi is flaky in the garden.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wifi	wifi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	flaky	flaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the wifi |  |  | the garden |  | flaky *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fish is cooked when it is white and flaky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaky:x6:1
# text = Fish is cooked when it is white and flaky.
1	Fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	cooked	cook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	flaky	flaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cook** | present · passive |  | Fish |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | Fish |  |  |  |  | white *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | Fish *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A Flake is a crumbly chocolate bar that goes in ice cream in the UK.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaky:x7:1
# text = A Flake is a crumbly chocolate bar that goes in ice cream in the UK.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Flake	flake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	crumbly	crumbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	bar	bar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a Flake | a crumbly chocolate bar |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present | a crumbly chocolate bar |  |  | ice cream |  | in the UK | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in cream=Location |

<!-- 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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