tītongi
1. (verb) (-tia) to peck at, nibble.
He kai nā te tangata, he kai tītongi kakī; he kai nā tōna ringa ake, tino kai, tino mākona (JPS 1930:354). / Food provided by another merely tickles the palate, but food earned by one's own hands is truly satisfying. (A whakataukī.)
Synonyms: kakai, tītongitongi, katikati, kōtamu, hārau, honihoni, honi, hohoni, kōhonihoni
2. (verb) (-tia) to graze.
Tītongi ai ngā kararehe o te pāmu. Tītongi ai hoki ētahi rauropi noho wai, pērā i te kina me te pāua, arā, ka tītongi i te pūkohu wai me te rimurimu kei runga i ngā toka, i ngā pūkawa rānei e tupu ana (RP 2009:404). / Farm animals graze for their food. Some water-dwelling organisms, such as kina and pāua, also graze on the algae and seaweed growing on the rocks and reefs.
