tiki

[ tee-kee ]

/ ˈti ki /

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noun

(initial capital letter) (in Polynesian mythology) the first man on earth.

(in Polynesian cultures) a carved image, as of a god or ancestor, sometimes worn as a pendant around the neck.

QUIZ

TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of tiki

1875–80; <Maori and Marquesan

Words nearby tiki

tik, tika, Tikal, tikanga, tike, tiki, tiki tour, tikka, Tikkiny, tikoloshe, Tikrit

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use tiki in a sentence

Archipelago offers a “Sippin’ Santa Home Edition” for takeout or delivery with premade rum cocktails and Santa-shaped tiki glasses.
Savor the spirits of the season at these outdoor holiday-themed bars|Fritz Hahn|December 11, 2020|Washington Post
Elderly women played Triple Double Diamond and Tiki Magic while they chain-smoked.
I Watched a Casino Kill Itself: The Awful Last Nights of Atlantic City’s Taj Mahal|Olivia Nuzzi|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of the oldest adult theaters in Los Angeles, the Tiki is open 24 hours a day.
The Tale Behind Fred Willard’s Arrest in an Adult Film Theater|Christine Pelisek|July 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Man was made by Tiki, who took red clay, and kneaded it with his own blood, or with the red water of swamps.
Myth, Ritual, and Religion, Vol. 1|Andrew Lang

I have never looked upon Brutus as anything of an original genius; but Tiki Whenua most certainly was.
Old New Zealand:|'A Pakeha Maori' [Frederick Edwa [Maning]
Tiki Tiu closed his eyes and let blue smoke filter through his nostrils.
The Sin of Monsieur Pettipon|Richard Connell
He mentioned his disappointment at these evidences of civilization to Tiki Tiu, the astute native who kept the general store.
The Sin of Monsieur Pettipon|Richard Connell
He prudently decided to stay in his cave until the sails of Tiki Tiu's schooner hove in sight.
The Sin of Monsieur Pettipon|Richard Connell

British Dictionary definitions for tiki

tiki

/ (ˈtiːkɪ) /

noun

an amulet or figurine in the form of a carved representation of an ancestor, worn in some Māori cultures

verb

(intr) NZ to take a scenic tour around an area

Word Origin for tiki

from Māori

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012