2. (adjective) be prickly, irritating, having sharp projections, unpalatable.
Kāore ahau e kaha ki te kai i ō kai, he tiotio ki tōku korokoro (TPH 15/10/1901:7). / I'm not able to eat your food because it irritates my throat.
Synonyms: kōtaratara, matara, taratara, tuatete, mākinakina, korotiotio, pūtiotio
3. (modifier) unpalatable, sticking in the gullet.
Kāore au e pai ki ēnei manga. He kai tiotio ki taku korokoro (HJ 2012:206). / I don't like these greens. They stick in my gullet.
4. (noun) jarring, discordant, harshness, irritation, annoyance.
Nui atu te tiotio o ēnā kupu whakahāwea ki aku taringa (HJ 2012:206). / Those contemptuous words really jar on my ears.
He waia ōku taringa ki te reo tika - reo Ingarihi, reo Māori. Nui atu te tiotio o ōku taringa ki te rongo ki te reo hē (TTT 1/7/1929:1018). / My ears are accustomed to correct language - both English and Māori. But it grates on my ears to hear incorrect language.
5. (noun) barnacle.
Ka pirau noa iho tētahi taha o te wahine rā, ka tupuria e te tiotio (TP 6/1909:3). / One side of that women was decaying and was grown over with barnacles.
Synonyms: koromāungaunga, werewere
