whakaniko
1. (verb) (-hia,-tia) to adorn with curves, enhance, ornament, embellish.
Ko tāna he toa anō ki te māra, ki te tātai arorangi, ki te whakaniko kōrero, ki te moenga anō hoki (Te Ara 2014). / She said they were experts at gardening, at astronomy, at embellishing narratives, and in making love.
Synonyms: whakarei, whakapaipai, whakanikoniko, nakonako, tāraro, whakapīwari, whakanakonako, pōria
2. (modifier) adorned, ornamented, enhanced, embellished, tattooed.
Synonyms: tānikoniko, tāraro, whakairoiro, whakanikoniko
3. (noun) adornment, ornamentation, enhancement, embellishment.
He kōrero tā ngā ringa, he kupu tā ngā karu, whatārangi ana tana whakaniko i te kōrero (TTR 1998:206). / He used gestures, his eyes, and his stage presence to embellish the oration.
Synonyms: whakarākeitanga, whakarāwai, whakanakonako, whakarākei, whakarei, whakarākai, whakanikoniko
