---
title: screeching — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «screeching» in the school dictionary: Making a loud, high, harsh sound, like a scream: a screeching owl. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# screeching

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Making, car, Screeching seagulls, screeching, us, chalk · **What happens:** make, screech, stop, come, mean, steal · **To what, where:** loud high harsh sound, high rough noise, tyres, screeching halt, chips, us · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«screeching» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [screeching in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/screeching.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Making a loud, high, harsh sound, like a scream: a screeching owl.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:screeching:m1:1
# text = Making a loud, high, harsh sound, like a scream: a screeching owl.
1	Making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
3	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	harsh	harsh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	scream	scream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	screeching	screech	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	amod	_	_
16	owl	owl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund |  | a loud high harsh sound and a scream |  |  |  | a screeching owl *obl* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |
| 2 | **screech** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «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: of wheels or brakes — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Making a high, rough noise when stopping suddenly: screeching tyres.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:screeching:m2:1
# text = Making a high, rough noise when stopping suddenly: screeching tyres.
1	Making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
3	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
8	stopping	stop	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
9	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
11	screeching	screech	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	conj	_	_
12	tyres	tyre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund |  | a high rough noise |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset noise=Product |
| 2 | **stop** | gerund | Making |  |  |  |  | suddenly *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 3 | **screech** | gerund | Making *not said here* | tyres |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent tyre=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A loud, harsh, high noise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:screeching:m3:1
# text = A loud, harsh, high noise.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
2	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	harsh	harsh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Come to a screeching halt" means stop very suddenly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:screeching:m4:1
# text = "Come to a screeching halt" means stop very suddenly.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Come	come	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	8	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	screeching	screech	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
6	halt	halt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
10	very	very	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  | a screeching halt |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to halt=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **screech** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **stop** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | suddenly *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The car stopped with screeching tyres.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:screeching:x1:1
# text = The car stopped with screeching tyres.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	screeching	screech	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
6	tyres	tyre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | past | the car |  |  |  |  | with screeching tyres | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme with tyre=Location |
| 2 | **screech** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Screeching seagulls stole our chips.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:screeching:x2:1
# text = Screeching seagulls stole our chips.
1	Screeching	screech	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	amod	_	_
2	seagulls	seagull	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stole	steal	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	chips	chip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **screech** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **steal** | past | Screeching seagulls | our chips |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location chip=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The screeching of chalk on the board made us shiver.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:screeching:x3:1
# text = The screeching of chalk on the board made us shiver.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	screeching	screeching	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	board	board	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	shiver	shiver	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the screeching of chalk on the board | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **shiver** | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_internal\_states-40.6 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **screech** |  | chalk |  |  | the board |  |  | nom screeching «event intransitive»: of=agent on=place |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bus came to a screeching halt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:screeching:x4:1
# text = The bus came to a screeching halt.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	screeching	screech	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	halt	halt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the bus |  |  | a screeching halt |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to halt=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **screech** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A barn owl makes a screeching call at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:screeching:x5:1
# text = A barn owl makes a screeching call at night.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	barn	barn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	owl	owl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	screeching	screech	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	call	call	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a barn owl | a screeching call |  |  | night |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset call=Product |
| 2 | **screech** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little sister ran round the garden screeching with laughter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:screeching:x6:1
# text = My little sister ran round the garden screeching with laughter.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	round	round	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	screeching	screech	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	laughter	laughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | My little sister |  |  | the garden |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme round garden=Trajectory |
| 2 | **screech** | gerund | My little sister *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with laughter | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with laughter=Theme |

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**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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