Word
poi
UK/pˈɔɪ/
Definition
n. a type of dance from New Zealand where people move their arms in circles to music. It is often performed in groups and involves a lot of rhythm and coordination.
n. a traditional Māori dance performed in a circle, involving rhythmic movements of the arms and legs to the beat of a drum. Often performed by men and women in groups, it is a significant cultural expression of identity and history.
Examples
“The group performed a beautiful poi dance at the festival.”
“During the cultural celebration, the local community gathered to learn the traditional poi movements and the stories behind them.”
“The rhythmic complexity of the poi requires a deep connection between the dancer's internal pulse and the steady beat of the pahu, creating a mesmerizing visual and auditory experience.”
Examples
simple
“The group performed a beautiful poi dance at the festival.”
contextual
“During the cultural celebration, the local community gathered to learn the traditional poi movements and the stories behind them.”
complex
“The rhythmic complexity of the poi requires a deep connection between the dancer's internal pulse and the steady beat of the pahu, creating a mesmerizing visual and auditory experience.”
Real-World Examples
“In the vegetable kingdom, mushrooms are high in glutamate, along with those favoured by children such as petit pois, sweetcorn and sweet cherry tomatoes.” Etymology
Borrowed from Hawaiian poi.
Borrowed from Māori poi.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/poi