Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

koru

1. (verb) to be folded, looped, coiled.

E koru ana te taura kia kore ai e whīwhiwhi. / The rope is coiled up so that it won't become tangled.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: takaāmiomio


2. (modifier) folded, looped, coiled.

Ko te pai o te taura koru, kāore e whīwhiwhi ina whakahorohorotia atu (PK 2008:334). / The benefit of a coiled rope is that it won't tangle when it's paid out.

Show example

Hide example


3. (noun) fold, loop, coil, curled shoot.

Arā anō he aruhe i kainga e te Māori, tae atu ki ngā pihinga o te kōwaowao, te rereti, te mouku, te huruhuru whenua, te koru o te kiokio me te pikopiko (Te Ara 2011). / Māori ate other ground ferns, including the young fronds of hound’s tongue fern, rereti, hen and chickens fern and shining spleenwort. They ate the curled shoots of kiokio and common shield fern.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: kono, koropewapewa, koromeke, koropewa, pōkuru, tau


4. (noun) spiral motif (in kōwhaiwhai patterns and carving).

He nui ngā kōrero e mea ana, ko te koru e tohu ana i te tipu hou, inā tōna rite ki te pītau huruwhenua (RTA 2014:107). / There are numerous accounts that say the koru symbolises a new shoot, like the fern frond.

Show example

Hide example

New favourites & quiz!

The Te Aka Māori Dictionary mobile app now has the ability to sort your favourite words into folders. Plus, these folders can be turned into a quiz for a fun way to learn words and definitions. Download or update the app today!

iOS Android

The App

Te Aka Māori Dictionary is also available as an iOS and Android app. Download below.

iOS Android

The Book

Te Aka Māori-English, English-Māori Dictionary and Index by John C Moorfield comprises a selection of modern and everyday language that will be extremely useful for learners of the Māori language.

More info

He Pātaka Kupu

Te kai a te rangatira

He Pātaka Kupu is a monolingual Māori language dictionary, and was designed using its own culturally authentic terms.

Visit website

00:00