---
title: snoop — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «snoop» in the school dictionary: To snoop is to look secretly around a place or into someone's private things to find out about them. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# snoop

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** snoop, person, they, you, little brother, I · **What happens:** snoop, be, find out, watch, do, stop · **To what, where:** place, person, detective, snoop, window, him

<!-- .vabout -->
«snoop» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [snoop in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/snoop.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To snoop is to look secretly around a place or into someone's private things to find out about them.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snoop:m1:1
# text = To snoop is to look secretly around a place or into someone's private things to find out about them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	snoop	snoop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	secretly	secretly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	around	around	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
11	into	into	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	private	private	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	acl	_	_
18	out	out	ADP	RP	_	17	compound:prt	_	_
19	about	about	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snoop** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | a place or someone's private things |  | look, secretly *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **find out** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | about things *= thing* | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about they=Topic |

<!-- .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 snoop is a person who snoops, someone nosy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snoop:m2:1
# text = A snoop is a person who snoops, someone nosy.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	snoop	snoop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	snoops	snoop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	conj	_	_
10	nosy	nosy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a snoop | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **snoop** | present | a person |  |  |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To snoop on someone is to spy on them or watch what they do.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snoop:m3:1
# text = To snoop on someone is to spy on them or watch what they do.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	snoop	snoop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	spy	spy	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	watch	watch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	14	obj	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snoop** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | on someone | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on someone=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | on them *= they*; spy *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **watch** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **do** | present | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop snooping in my bag!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snoop:x1:1
# text = Stop snooping in my bag!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	snooping	snoop	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **snoop** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | in my bag | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in bag=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother snooped around my room while I was out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snoop:x2:1
# text = My little brother snooped around my room while I was out.
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	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	snooped	snoop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	around	around	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	out	out	ADV	RB	_	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snoop** | past | My little brother |  |  |  |  | around my room | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent around room=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | I |  |  |  |  | out *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective snooped through the old letters looking for a clue.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snoop:x3:1
# text = The detective snooped through the old letters looking for a clue.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	snooped	snoop	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	looking	look	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	clue	clue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snoop** | participle |  | the detective *not said here* |  |  |  | through the old letters | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent through letter=Theme |
| 2 | **look** | gerund | the old letters *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for a clue | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for clue=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our neighbour is such a snoop; she always watches from her window.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snoop:x4:1
# text = Our neighbour is such a snoop; she always watches from her window.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	neighbour	neighbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	6	det:predet	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	snoop	snoop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	10	advmod	_	_
10	watches	watch	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
11	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Our neighbour | such snoop |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **watch** | present | she |  |  | her window |  | always *property* | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I caught him snooping on my phone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snoop:x5:1
# text = I caught him snooping on my phone.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	snooping	snoop	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | I | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |
| 2 | **snoop** | gerund | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | on my phone | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on phone=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat snooped about the kitchen for scraps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snoop:x6:1
# text = The cat snooped about the kitchen for scraps.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	snooped	snoop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	scraps	scrap	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 | **snoop** | past | the cat |  |  |  |  | about the kitchen; for scraps | vn rummage-35.5-1 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent about kitchen=Location for scrap=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Apps should not snoop on what children do online.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snoop:x7:1
# text = Apps should not snoop on what children do online.
1	Apps	app	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	snoop	snoop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	obl	_	_
7	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	online	online	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **snoop** | should | Apps |  |  |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on what=Theme |
| 2 | **do** | present | children |  |  |  |  | online *property* | vn act-114-1 «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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