---
title: squirm — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «squirm» in the school dictionary: To squirm means to twist and wriggle your body because you are uncomfortable, bored or trying to get free. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# squirm

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, puppy, joke, me, His, I · **What happens:** squirm, mean, twist, wriggle, be, try · **To what, where:** body, arms, me, little boy, chair, fish · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To squirm means to twist and wriggle your body because you are uncomfortable, bored or trying to get free.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squirm:m1:1
# text = To squirm means to twist and wriggle your body because you are uncomfortable, bored or trying to get free.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	squirm	squirm	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	twist	twist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	wriggle	wriggle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	uncomfortable	uncomfortable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	bored	bored	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	conj	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	_	_
20	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squirm** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **twist** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **wriggle** | infinitive |  | your body |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | uncomfortable *property* | tree rules |
| 6 | **be** |  | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 7 | **try** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 8 | **get** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | free *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"The puppy squirmed out of my arms."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squirm:m1e:1
# text = "The puppy squirmed out of my arms."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	squirmed	squirm	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squirm** *in a quote* | past | the puppy |  |  | my arms |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To squirm also means to feel very embarrassed or ashamed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squirm:m2:1
# text = To squirm also means to feel very embarrassed or ashamed.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	squirm	squirm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	embarrassed	embarrassed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	ashamed	ashamed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squirm** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **feel** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | embarrassed *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"His joke made me squirm."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squirm:m2e:1
# text = "His joke made me squirm."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	squirm	squirm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** *in a quote* | past | His joke | me |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **squirm** *in a quote* | infinitive | me *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **joke** *in a quote* |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom joke «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little boy squirmed in his chair during the long assembly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squirm:x1:1
# text = The little boy squirmed in his chair during the long assembly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	squirmed	squirm	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	in	in	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	chair	chair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	during	during	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squirm** | participle |  | the little boy *not said here* |  | boy's chair | during the long assembly |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fish squirmed in the net.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squirm:x2:1
# text = The fish squirmed in the net.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	squirmed	squirm	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	net	net	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squirm** | participle |  | the fish *not said here* |  | the net |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I squirmed when Mum showed my baby photos.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squirm:x3:1
# text = I squirmed when Mum showed my baby photos.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	squirmed	squirm	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
4	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	photos	photo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squirm** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **show** | past | Mum | my baby photos |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent photo=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy squirmed out of my arms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squirm:x4:1
# text = The puppy squirmed out of my arms.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	squirmed	squirm	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squirm** | past | the puppy |  |  | my arms |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He squirmed with embarrassment when he forgot his lines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squirm:x5:1
# text = He squirmed with embarrassment when he forgot his lines.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	squirmed	squirm	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	embarrassment	embarrassment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	forgot	forget	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squirm** | past | He |  |  |  |  | with embarrassment | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **forget** | past | he | his lines |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Worms squirmed in the wet soil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squirm:x6:1
# text = Worms squirmed in the wet soil.
1	Worms	worm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
2	squirmed	squirm	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squirm** | participle |  | Worms *not said here* |  | the wet soil |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tricky question made the minister squirm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squirm:x7:1
# text = The tricky question made the minister squirm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tricky	tricky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	minister	minister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	squirm	squirm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the tricky question | the minister squirm |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset squirm=Product |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Instead of a dead donkey, he saw a very much alive Marionette, wriggling and squirming like an eel.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squirm:x8:1
# text = Instead of a dead donkey, he saw a very much alive Marionette, wriggling and squirming like an eel.
1	Instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	5	case	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
10	very	very	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	much	much	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	alive	alive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	Marionette	Marionette	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	wriggling	wriggle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	conj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	squirming	squirm	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	conj	_	_
18	like	like	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	eel	eel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | donkey | a alive Marionette |  |  |  | instead a dead donkey | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer marionette=Stimulus |
| 2 | **wriggle** | gerund | donkey *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **squirm** | gerund | donkey *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like a eel | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «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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