whakatangatanga
1. (verb) (-hia,-tia) to loosen, release from restraint, ease.
Ko te hinu hei whakatangatanga i ngā mahi a ngā hāhi, he moni, hei whāngai i ngā minita kia ora ai te mahi i tā rātou mahi, hei hanga whare karakia (HKW 1/10/1901:5). / The oil to ease the work of the churches is money as sustenance for the ministers so that they can do their job well and to build churches.
Synonyms: tākiri, whakamatara, tangatanga, maunu, whakakaewa, hangoro, whakakorokoro, whakangoru, tākōkō
2. (verb) (-hia,-tia) to try to loosen, endeavour to disengage.
Ka mau ngā ringa o te teina whakatangatanga noa, kīhai i riro ake te punga, ka mau tonu ki raro ki te moana (MM.TKM 1/2/1855:25). / The younger brother took the rope with his hands and attempted to loosen it, but the anchor couldn't be moved and held fast on the bottom of the sea.
3. (noun) clutch (car).
