kitā

1. (verb) to chirp, sing, stridulate, tweet.

E kitā nei hoki te tarakihi (W 1971:120). / The cicada is stridulating. (Said of a hungry man when food is scarce.)

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2. (noun) chirp, stridulation - sound made by a cicada.

kita

1. (intransitive verb) to be tightly clenched.

Kita ana ngā niho, kati ana ngā karu, me te riaka o te ringa ki te tango i te taupoki - he aha te aha (HJ 2017:27). / Clenching the teeth, shutting the eyes and straining with the hand to remove the cap - but without success.

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2. (modifier) bright (of colours), tightly, fast, intensely.

(Te Māhuri Study Guide (Ed. 1): 63-64;)

Ko te amokura he manu moana. He mā ngā huruhuru, he whero ngā ngutu. E rua ōna kurutou whero kita, roroa rawa atu. / The amokura is a ocean bird. Its feathers are white and its beak is red. It has two bright red tail feathers that are very long.

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3. (modifier) securely, firmly, tightly - follows mau as an intensifier.

Ko ngā wini, he mau kita, tē taea te whakapuare kia hauangi ai a roto (HKW 1/5/1901:10). / The windows were fixed firmly, they could not be opened so it could be airy inside.

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Synonyms: ita, nawenawe

kitā

1. (loan) (noun) guitar.

He taonga puoro autangi te kitā e tino whakamahia ana i ngā momo puoro maha o ēnei rā. E ono ngā aho o te nuinga, ā, ka puta tōna reo i te raraku, i te katokato, i te pākuru rānei i ngā aho (RTP 2015:60). / The guitar is a type of stringed instrument which is widely used in contemporary music. Most have six strings and the sound is produced by strumming, plucking or hitting the strings.(RTP 2015:60).
…e whakatangi kē mai ana rānei ia i te piana, i te pūkumekume, i te ukurere me te kitā atu hoki (TTR 2000:96). / …or he played the piano, the trombone, the ukulele and the guitar.

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