apu

1. (verb) (-a,-hia,-tia) to cover, spread over.

Noho noa nei ki te one, e apua ana ia e te kirikiri (W 1971:13). / She just sat on the beach covered by gravel.

2. (verb) (-a,-hia,-ria,-tia) to cram into the mouth, gorge, glut, gobble up, wolf down.

Te korimako: Nā te reka o tana waiata ka whakaritea ngā tāngata reo ātaahua ki a ia. He apu paru te pārera; whai anō ka whakaritea ngā tāngata kaihoro ki a ia (Te Ara 2014). / The bellbird: Because it sings beautifully, people with beautiful voices are compared to it. The grey duck gobbles up mud and it follows that greedy people are likened to it.

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3. (modifier) greedy.

He pārera apu paru (W 1971:13). / A grey duck is a greedy feeder.

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apū

1. (verb) to move in a flock, move in a crowd.

2. (noun) flock (of birds).

E pērātia ana mātou me te mōkaikai kākā, e poapoa mai nei i te apū manu kia patua (TWMNT 5/10/1875:222). / We are made to act like a pet kākā that lures in the flock of birds to be killed.

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3. (noun) company of labourers.