Meanings
matai1
matai2
plural matais
- A coniferous tree, Prumnopitys taxifolia, endemic to New Zealand.
Constructed from the native timbers rimu, kauri, or matai, the interior has been refurbished in sympathy with the era of the home. The five bedrooms are individually designed, all with private balconies or verandahs.
2008, “The Peppertree”, in Friars Guide to New Zealand Accommodation for the Discerning Traveller 2009, Auckland: Hodder Moa, page 150
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
matai · noun
- Samoanmatai
- Samoanmatai
- Englishmatai
Borrowed from Samoan matai.
More words from Samoan
Full word history & related roots →matai · noun
- Māorimataī
- Māorimataī
- Englishmatai
Borrowed from Māori mataī.
More words from Māori
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
matai. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/matai
“matai.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/matai. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “matai,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/matai.
Source: matai on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.