kē
1. (verb) to make a sharp abrupt sound, crack, scream, screech.
Tau: He aha tērā e kē mai rā? Ira: Ko te puoho ahi - kia tata pau te kaha o te pūhiko, ka kē mai, kia mōhio ai te tangata me pūhiko hou (HJ 2012:287). / Tau: What's that screeching? Ira: It's the fire alarm - when the battery is nearly flat, it screeches so that one knows that the it must have a new battery.
Synonyms: ngoe, tioro, pioro, tīwē, ngoengoe, tekekō, ngāngā, ngē, kīrea, kā
2. (modifier) screeching, screaming.
Ka tau rātou ki te kai, ka noho kē tētahi ki runga rawa i tētahi rākau hei tūtei, ka kite ia i te kāhu, i te kārearea rānei e rere ana, ka puta tana tangi kē (TWM 18/7/1867:3). / When they land to eat one remains right up in a tree as a sentry and when it sees a harrier hawk or a New Zealand falcon it utters a sharp screeching sound.
Synonyms: whakatioro
