mataī
1. (noun) mataī, black pine, Prumnopitys taxifolia - a coniferous, long-lived native tree of lowland forest with small, narrow leaves arranged in two rows, hammer-marked trunk and pale timber. Ripe seed is a deep blue-black with a pale purplish bloom.
He nui anō ngā rākau nunui i taua wā, he tōtara, he rimu, he kahika, he mataī, he miro, he kauri me ngā rākau pakupaku, he patatē, he hinahina he kaikōmako te paunga o te ngahere i te ahi (HTK 20/1/1894:5). / There were many giant trees at that time, tōtara, rimu, kahikatea, mataī, miro and kauri, with the small trees, patatē, whiteywood and kaikōmako, which were all destroyed in the fire.
mātai
1. (verb) (-a,-hia,-tia) to inspect, examine, investigate, scan, observe, note.
Haere ki te mātai i ō waka (W 1971:187). / Go and inspect your pigeon troughs.
Synonyms: pitopito kōrero, matawai, karapa, titiro, tiro, mātaki, mātakitaki, mataara, mātātaki
2. (verb) (-hia,-tia) to gaze at intently, gaze longingly.
Tāu mahi he mātai: kāore koe e whakamā? (W 1971:187). / You are staring: aren't you embarrassed?
3. (noun) field of study, -ology - used with names of fields of science, e.g. mātai puia for volcanology.
He peka matua te mātai koiora o te mātauranga pūtaiao e aro ana ki ngā mea ora i roto anō i ō rātou pūnaha hauropi (RP 2009:279). / Biology is a major branch of science focusing on living things in their ecosystems.
mātai
1. (noun) sea, ocean.
Synonyms: moana tuauriuri, moana waiwai, moana, Tahuaroa, au, tahuaroa, tai
