---
title: picket — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «picket» in the school dictionary: A pointed wooden stake, used in a fence: a «picket fence». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# picket

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** strike, others, house, nurses, Workers, Mum · **What happens:** use, stand, protest, ask, not go in, picket · **To what, where:** pointed wooden stake, fence, workplace, others, place, animal · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«picket» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [picket in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/picket.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pointed wooden stake, used in a fence: a «picket fence».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picket:m1:1
# text = A pointed wooden stake, used in a fence: a «picket fence».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	pointed	pointed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	stake	stake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	picket	picket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a pointed wooden stake *not said here* |  | a fence  a picket fence |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A group of workers on strike who stand outside their workplace to protest and ask others not to go in: a «picket line».

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picket:m2:1
# text = A group of workers on strike who stand outside their workplace to protest and ask others not to go in: a «picket line».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	strike	strike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	stand	stand	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	outside	outside	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	workplace	workplace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	protest	protest	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	_
16	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	_
20	in	in	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	25	punct	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
23	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	picket	picket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | present | strike |  |  | workers's workplace |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent outside workplace=Location |
| 2 | **protest** *speech: disagree* | to-infinitive | strike *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn rebel-71.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* | infinitive | strike *not said here* | others |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent other=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 4 | **not** **go in** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | others *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To stand outside a place to protest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picket:m3:1
# text = To stand outside a place to protest.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	stand	stand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	outside	outside	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	protest	protest	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | a place |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent outside place=Location |
| 2 | **protest** *speech: disagree* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn rebel-71.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small group of soldiers on guard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picket:m4:1
# text = A small group of soldiers on guard.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	guard	guard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To picket an animal means to tie it to a stake for the night.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picket:m5:1
# text = To picket an animal means to tie it to a stake for the night.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	picket	picket	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	tie	tie	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	stake	stake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **picket** | to-infinitive |  | a animal |  |  |  |  | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent animal=Location |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **tie** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | animal |  |  | night | to a stake | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent it=Patient to stake=Co-Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The house has a white picket fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picket:x1:1
# text = The house has a white picket fence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	picket	picket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the house | a white picket fence |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fence=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nurses stood on the picket line in the cold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picket:x2:1
# text = The nurses stood on the picket line in the cold.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nurses	nurse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	picket	picket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	cold	cold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past | the nurses |  |  | the picket line |  | in the cold | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on line=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Workers picketed the factory gates.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picket:x3:1
# text = Workers picketed the factory gates.
1	Workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	picketed	picket	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	factory	factory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	gates	gate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **picket** | past | Workers | the factory gates |  |  |  |  | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent gate=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum said she would not cross the picket line.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picket:x4:1
# text = Mum said she would not cross the picket line.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
4	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	cross	cross	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	picket	picket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Mum |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **cross** | would | Mum | the picket line |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent line=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The picket held signs asking for fair pay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picket:x5:1
# text = The picket held signs asking for fair pay.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	picket	picket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	signs	sign	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	pay	pay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | the picket | signs |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sign=Theme |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund | signs *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for fair pay | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One picket in the fence was broken.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picket:x6:1
# text = One picket in the fence was broken.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	picket	picket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | past · passive |  | One picket in the fence |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Yes,” said Two Tails, with a laugh all up his trunk. “I’m picketed for the night.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* “Yes,” said Two Tails, with a laugh all up his trunk.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picket:x7:1
# text = “Yes,” said Two Tails, with a laugh all up his trunk.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	Two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	Tails	tail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	laugh	laugh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
12	all	all	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	up	up	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	trunk	trunk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Two Tails |  |  |  |  | with a laugh up his trunk | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent with laugh=Manner |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* “I’m picketed for the night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picket:x7:2
# text = “I’m picketed for the night.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	’m	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	picketed	picket	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	night	night	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 | **picket** *in a quote* | present · passive | Two Tails *= tail* |  |  |  | night |  | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location»: 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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