---
title: peek — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «peek» in the school dictionary: To peek means to look at something quickly or secretly, often when you should not. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# peek

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** peek, sun, you, I, baby, we · **What happens:** peek, mean, look, be, peek out, show · **To what, where:** quick short look, little, eyes, peek, birthday presents, sneak peek · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«peek» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [peek in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/peek.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To peek means to look at something quickly or secretly, often when you should not.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peek:m1:1
# text = To peek means to look at something quickly or secretly, often when you should not.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	peek	peek	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
8	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	secretly	secretly	ADV	RB	_	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	15	advmod	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **peek** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **look** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | at something; quickly *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at something=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 -->
A peek is a quick, short look.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peek:m2:1
# text = A peek is a quick, short look.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	peek	peek	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To peek out means to just show a little, like the sun peeking out from behind clouds.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peek:m3:1
# text = To peek out means to just show a little, like the sun peeking out from behind clouds.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	peek	peek	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	nsubj	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
6	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
14	peeking	peek	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	acl	_	_
15	out	out	ADP	RP	_	14	compound:prt	_	_
16	from	from	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **peek out** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **show** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | a little |  |  |  | like the sun | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent little=Recipient |
| 4 | **peek out** | gerund | the sun *not said here* |  |  |  |  | from clouds | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent from cloud=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Close your eyes and no peeking!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peek:x1:1
# text = Close your eyes and no peeking!
1	Close	close	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	6	det	_	_
6	peeking	peeking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **close** | imperative | you *not said here* | your eyes and no peeking |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent eye=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I took a peek at my birthday presents.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peek:x2:1
# text = I took a peek at my birthday presents.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	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	peek	peek	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	presents	present	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | I | a peek |  | my birthday presents |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent peek=Theme at present=Asset |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sun peeked out from behind the clouds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peek:x3:1
# text = The sun peeked out from behind the clouds.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	peeked	peek	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **peek out** | past | the sun |  |  |  |  | from the clouds; out *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent from cloud=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't peek at the answers at the back of the book.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peek:x4:1
# text = Don't peek at the answers at the back of the book.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	peek	peek	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	answers	answer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **peek** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at the answers at the back of the book | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at answer=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby laughed when we played peek-a-boo.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peek:x5:1
# text = The baby laughed when we played peek-a-boo.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	peek	peek	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	boo	boo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** | past | the baby |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **play** | past | we | peek |  |  |  | a boo *obl:unmarked* | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent peek=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kitten peeked out from under the sofa.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peek:x6:1
# text = The kitten peeked out from under the sofa.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	peeked	peek	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sofa	sofa	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 | **peek out** | past | the kitten |  |  |  |  | from the sofa | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent from sofa=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We got a sneak peek of the new playground.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peek:x7:1
# text = We got a sneak peek of the new playground.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	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	sneak	sneak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	peek	peek	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	playground	playground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | We | a sneak peek of the new playground |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer peek=Stimulus |
| 2 | **peek** |  | the new playground |  |  |  |  |  | nom peek «act intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She peeked through the keyhole.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peek:x8:1
# text = She peeked through the keyhole.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	peeked	peek	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	keyhole	keyhole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **peek** | past | She |  |  |  |  | through the keyhole | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent through keyhole=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 -->

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