pōpopo
1. (adjective) be biodegradable.
Mēnā ka popo, ka pirau tētahi momo matū mā te mahi noa a ngā rauropi o te taiao, ka kīia he pōpopo taua mea (RP 2009:328). / If a material can break down or decompose through the natural activity of living organisms, it is said to be biodegradable (RP 2009:328).
2. (modifier) rotten, decayed, worm-eaten.
Ki te makaia e te tangata he rākau pōpopo ki runga i te ahi, ka putaputa te pōpokorua ki waho omaoma ai, he wehi i te wera o te ahi (TP 8/1911:1). / If someone throws some rotten wood onto the fire, the ants will appear and run about because of fear of the heat of the fire.
Synonyms: kurupopo, pūmaoa, kurupōpopo, popo, tipoko, pirau, piro, popopopo
3. (noun) anything rotten or decayed, decay.
I whānau mai tēnei ngārara, te tūngoungou, i roto i te pōpopo rākau. Te putanga mai he tunga, ka noho tonu anō ia i roto i te pōpopo rākau, ka roa ia e noho ana, kua puta he parirau mōna, ka kīia tōna ingoa i tēnā wā he pepe. Ka roa ia e noho ana kua puta ki waho o te pōpopo. Tōna putanga ki waho kua rere he pango te āhua, i mua i tēnei he mā kē tōna āhua, ka kīia i tēnā wā he pokaka. I muri i tēnā kua rerekē tōna āhua kua kīia he pūrerehua kai hue. I muri i tēnā kua hoki ia ki roto i te oneone, tōna putanga ake he tūngoungou (TP 11/1909:4). / This creature, the pupa, is born in rotten wood. It appears as a grub which continues to live in rotten wood. After a long time living there, wings appear for it and at this stage its called a moth. After a long time it emerges out of the rotten wood. When it emerges it flies off and has a dark appearance, whereas before this it is white and at that stage it is called a pokaka. After that its appearance changes and its called a gourd eating moth. After that it returns to the ground and reappears as a pupa.
