[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/kea/)

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# kea

noun (a kea, keas)

«kea» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A kea is a large, olive-green mountain parrot from the South Island of New Zealand, with bright orange under its wings, famous for being very clever and cheeky. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kea/#m1)

### In the lessons

In nature lessons about New Zealand, the kea is the world's only alpine (mountain) parrot. Keas solve puzzles, play in the snow, and love to pull apart cars, bags and boots, so they are called «the clown of the mountains». They are endangered and protected. Its name comes from the Māori language and copies its call, «kee-aa». Phrases: «cheeky kea», «kea-proof».

### Examples

- A kea pulled the rubber off our car window. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kea/#x1)
- Keas live high in the mountains of New Zealand's South Island. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kea/#x2)
- The kea's wings are bright orange underneath. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kea/#x3)
- Scientists say keas are as clever as some monkeys at puzzles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kea/#x4)
- Don't leave your boots outside — the keas will steal them! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kea/#x5)
- Keas are protected because only a few thousand are left. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kea/#x6)

### Note

Plural «keas». Say KEE-a. The word is from te reo Māori. Trap: don't feed keas; human food harms them.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «kea» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kea/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«kea» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/kea.html) on Mova free.