---
title: snook — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «snook» in the school dictionary: «Cock a snook» (UK, old-fashioned) — to make a rude, mocking sign by putting your thumb on your nose and spreading your fingers; also to show open disrespect for someone or a rule. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# snook

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, cheeky boy, little shop, Thumbing, Dad, new band · **What happens:** cock, make, mock, put, spread, show · **To what, where:** snook, rude, sign, thumb, nose, fingers

<!-- .vabout -->
«snook» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [snook in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/snook.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Cock a snook» (UK, old-fashioned) — to make a rude, mocking sign by putting your thumb on your nose and spreading your fingers; also to show open disrespect for someone or a rule.

<!-- fold The tree, 33 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snook:m1:1
# text = «Cock a snook» (UK, old-fashioned) — to make a rude, mocking sign by putting your thumb on your nose and spreading your fingers; also to show open disrespect for someone or a rule.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Cock	cock	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	snook	snook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	fashioned	fashioned	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	11	punct	_	_
13	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	mocking	mock	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	advcl	_	_
20	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	_
21	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
22	putting	put	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	19	advcl	_	_
23	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	24	nmod:poss	_	_
24	thumb	thumb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	_
25	on	on	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	27	nmod:poss	_	_
27	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	_
28	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	spreading	spread	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	22	conj	_	_
30	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	31	nmod:poss	_	_
31	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	29	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	35	punct	_	_
33	also	also	ADV	RB	_	35	advmod	_	_
34	to	to	PART	TO	_	35	mark	_	_
35	show	show	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
36	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	37	amod	_	_
37	disrespect	disrespect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	35	obj	_	_
38	for	for	ADP	IN	_	39	case	_	_
39	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	35	obl	_	_
40	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	42	cc	_	_
41	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	42	det	_	_
42	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	39	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
43	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cock** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | a snook |  |  |  | UK *obl* | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent snook=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a rude |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset rude=Product |
| 3 | **mock** | gerund | you *not said here* | sign |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sign=Theme |
| 4 | **put** | gerund | you *not said here* | your thumb |  | your nose |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent thumb=Theme on nose=Destination |
| 5 | **spread** | gerund | you *not said here* | your fingers |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location finger=Theme |
| 6 | **show** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | open disrespect |  |  |  | for someone | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent disrespect=Recipient |

<!-- .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 long, silvery fish of warm seas, caught for food and sport.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snook:m2:1
# text = A long, silvery fish of warm seas, caught for food and sport.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	silvery	silvery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	seas	sea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	sport	sport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | for food and sport | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for food=Beneficiary |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cheeky boy cocked a snook at the bus driver.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snook:x1:1
# text = The cheeky boy cocked a snook at the bus driver.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cheeky	cheeky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	cocked	cock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	snook	snook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	driver	driver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cock** | past | the cheeky boy | a snook |  |  |  | at the bus driver | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent snook=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little shop cocked a snook at the big supermarket by giving everything away free.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snook:x2:1
# text = The little shop cocked a snook at the big supermarket by giving everything away free.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	cocked	cock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	snook	snook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	supermarket	supermarket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
11	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
13	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	12	obj	_	_
14	away	away	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
15	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cock** | past | the little shop | a snook |  | the big supermarket |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent snook=Patient |
| 2 | **give** | gerund | the little shop *not said here* | everything |  |  |  | free *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent everything=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thumbing your nose — cocking a snook — is a rude gesture.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snook:x3:1
# text = Thumbing your nose — cocking a snook — is a rude gesture.
1	Thumbing	thumb	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	csubj	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
5	cocking	cock	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	conj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	snook	snook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	gesture	gesture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thumb** | gerund |  | your nose |  |  |  |  | vn rummage-35.5-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent nose=Location |
| 2 | **cock** | gerund |  | a snook |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent snook=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** | present | Thumbing | a rude gesture |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad caught a snook on his holiday in Florida.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snook:x4:1
# text = Dad caught a snook on his holiday in Florida.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	snook	snook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	holiday	holiday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Florida	Florida	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | Dad | a snook |  | Dad's holiday in Florida |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent snook=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new band cocks a snook at old rules about music.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snook:x5:1
# text = The new band cocks a snook at old rules about music.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	cocks	cock	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	snook	snook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cock** | present | the new band | a snook |  | old rules about music |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent snook=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pupils cocked a snook at the rain and played outside anyway.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snook:x6:1
# text = The pupils cocked a snook at the rain and played outside anyway.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cocked	cock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	snook	snook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	outside	outside	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	anyway	anyway	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cock** | past | the pupils | a snook |  | the rain |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent snook=Patient |
| 2 | **play** | past | the pupils *not said here* |  |  |  |  | anyway, outside *property* | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: 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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