whakairoiro
1. (verb) (-hia) to carve, to ornament with a pattern, decorate.
Ko Karauria tēnei, he uri nō Tu-ariki, he tohunga ki te whakairoiro (TTT 1/2/1924:12). / This was Karauria, a descendant of Tū-ariki, an expert in carving.
Synonyms: whakairo
2. (modifier) carved, ornamented, ornate, elaborate, decorative.
Ko tōna kanohi i tāia ki te moko whakairoiro (TTR 1994:134). / He had an elaborate facial tattoo.
Synonyms: tāraro, whakanikoniko, whakaniko, tānikoniko
3. (noun) carving.
Nā Ruka rā ngā kōrero whakatauira i ngā whakairoiro mō te whare nui (TTR 2000:32). / Ruka established the narratives about the carvings of the meeting house.
