au
1. (noun) smoke.
Ko ngā tuākana e whakapuru wahie ana ki ngā taha o te whare, ā, ka tahuna ki te ahi. Ka kā tēnei wāhi, me tēnei wāhi, ka puta ki te roro, ka uhia te whare e te au o te ahi; ka kapia hoki te mataaho o te whare e te ahi (TWK 4:28). / The older brothers piled firwood against the side of the house and the fire was lit. The fire burnt at each part and when it reached the verandah the house was covered by the smoke of the fire; and the window of the house was enveloped by the fire.
See also auahi
2. (noun) cloud, mist, fog.
Ātaahua ana te tāiri mai o te au i runga ake i te roto i te ata nei (PK 2008:43). / The mist suspended above the lake is so beautiful this morning.
Synonyms: haumaringi, pūkohu, pūnenehu, kōnenehu, tārehu, waikohu, tūkōrehu, pūrehu, haumāringiringi, kōnehunehu, kākahi, pūnehunehu, haumaringi, pūkohu, pūnenehu, tākohu, pūnehu, tuarehu, tūkōrehu, pūrehu, kohu, rehu, kākahi, pūnehunehu
3. (noun) current.
Poto tonu rātou te mau ki ngā hoe, ā, i mua i te rironga anō o te waka i te au o te moana, ka poua ngā hoe, ka kōkiri atu whakawaho a 'Tainui' ki te moana nui (NIT 1995:37). / They all took a paddle and, before they could be carried off again by the current of the sea, they plunged in the paddles and 'Tainui' short out to open sea.
4. (noun) whirlpool, rapid.
Rere pāhukahuka ana te wai i te au o te awa (PK 2008:43). / The water flows with froth in the rapids of the river.
5. (noun) wake (of a canoe, etc.).
E kaikainga ana te tahatika e te au nui o ngā waka e whakawhiti ana i Te Moana-o-Raukawa (PK 2008:43). / The shoreline is being eaten away by the big wake of the vessels crossing Cook Strait.
6. (noun) sea, ocean.
Nā, kātahi te tangata nei ka kahu i ana kahu whakapaipai, ka puta ki waho o te whare, ko te māhunga i tiaina ki te huia, ki te kōtuku. Nā, ka puta te whakataukī, 'me he toroa e tau ana i runga i te au' (TWK 4:13) / Then this man put on his beautiful cloaks, came out of the house, and his head was adorned with huia and kōtuku feathers. Now the whakataukī was expressed, 'like an albatross landing on the sea'.
Synonyms: moana, mātai, Tahuaroa, moana tuauriuri, moana waiwai
7. (noun) gall-bladder, gall.
Kātahi ka whakamoetia au. I werohia he ngira ki taku ringaringa katau. E rima hāora pea ina au e moe ana, e tapahia ana, ka tangohia ngā kōhatu e rima i roto i taku au (HP 1991:268). / Then I was sedated. A needle was inserted into my right arm. I was asleep for approximately five hours when I was operated on and five stones in my gall-bladder were removed.
8. (noun) string, cord.
Tuia ki runga ki te au kotahi (W 1971:20). / Tie it on top with a single string.
