Marae

Pronunciation

• IPA: /məˈɹʌɪ/
• Rhymes: -aɪ

Origin

Polynesian.

Full definition of marae

Noun

1. (archaic) a Polynesian sacred altar or enclosure
• 2004: The path ended down by the sea at a crumbling ‘ingot’ of black coral, twenty yards in length & in height two men. ‘A marae, this is called,’ Mr Wagstaff informed me. ‘All over the South Seas you see ’em, I’m told.’ — David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas
2. the courtyard of a Maori wharenui or meeting-house and the buildings around it

Anagrams

• arame
• maare