---
title: ticklish — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ticklish» in the school dictionary: Ticklish means easily made to laugh or squirm when someone tickles you. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ticklish

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Ticklish, someone, ticklish problem, ticklish feeling, little sister, feet · **What happens:** mean, make, laugh, squirm, tickle, be · **To what, where:** you, careful handling, light itchy feeling, arms, ticklish problem, ticklish cough · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ticklish means easily made to laugh or squirm when someone tickles you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ticklish:m1:1
# text = Ticklish means easily made to laugh or squirm when someone tickles you.
1	Ticklish	ticklish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	squirm	squirm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	11	mark	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nsubj	_	_
11	tickles	tickle	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Ticklish |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | easily *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **laugh** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **squirm** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **tickle** | present | someone | you |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A ticklish problem or situation is difficult and needs careful handling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ticklish:m2:1
# text = A ticklish problem or situation is difficult and needs careful handling.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ticklish	ticklish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	handling	handling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a ticklish problem or situation |  |  |  |  | difficult *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | present | a ticklish problem or situation *not said here* | careful handling |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot handling=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A ticklish feeling is a light itchy feeling, as in a ticklish cough or throat.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ticklish:m3:1
# text = A ticklish feeling is a light itchy feeling, as in a ticklish cough or throat.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ticklish	ticklish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	light	light	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	itchy	itchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	ticklish	ticklish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	cough	cough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	parataxis	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	throat	throat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a ticklish feeling | a light itchy feeling |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little sister is very ticklish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ticklish:x1:1
# text = My little sister is very ticklish.
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	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	ticklish	ticklish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My little sister |  |  |  |  | ticklish *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Are your feet ticklish?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ticklish:x2:1
# text = Are your feet ticklish?
1	Are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	ticklish	ticklish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | your feet |  |  |  |  | ticklish *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm ticklish under my arms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ticklish:x3:1
# text = I'm ticklish under my arms.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	ticklish	ticklish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	arms	arm	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 | **is** | present | I |  |  | my arms |  | ticklish *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop tickling when someone says stop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ticklish:x4:1
# text = Stop tickling when someone says stop.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	tickling	tickle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nsubj	_	_
5	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
6	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	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 | **tickle** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn tingle-40.8.2 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **stop** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a ticklish problem to solve.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ticklish:x5:1
# text = It was a ticklish problem to solve.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	ticklish	ticklish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a ticklish problem |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **solve** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I've got a ticklish cough.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ticklish:x6:1
# text = I've got a ticklish cough.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	've	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	got	get	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	ticklish	ticklish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cough	cough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present · perfect | I | a ticklish cough |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer cough=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You can't tickle yourself, even if you're ticklish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ticklish:x7:1
# text = You can't tickle yourself, even if you're ticklish.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	tickle	tickle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	even	even	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
8	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	ticklish	ticklish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **tickle** | can | You | yourself |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent yourself=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  | ticklish *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is a ticklish matter, that I can assure you.’

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ticklish:x8:1
# text = It is a ticklish matter, that I can assure you.’
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	ticklish	ticklish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	assure	assure	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	parataxis	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	iobj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a ticklish matter |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **assure** | can | I |  | you |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent you=Recipient |

<!-- 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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