What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Pat vs Exact - What's the difference?

pat | exact | Synonyms |

As verbs the difference between pat and exact

is that pat is to (gently) tap the flat of one's hand on a person or thing while exact is to demand and enforce the payment or performance of.

As adjectives the difference between pat and exact

is that pat is timely, suitable, apt, opportune, ready for the occasion; especially of things spoken while exact is precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect.

As a noun pat

is the sound of a light slap or tap with a soft flat object, especially of a footstep.

As an adverb pat

is opportunely, in a timely or suitable way.

As a proper noun Pat

is a short form of the female given name Patricia.

pat

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) . For loss of ''l , compare (patch) for (platch); (pate) for (plate), etc. See (l).

Noun

(en noun)
  • The sound of a light slap or tap with a soft flat object, especially of a footstep
  • A light tap or slap, especially with the hands
  • A flattish lump of soft matter, especially butter or dung.
  • * Charles Dickens
    • It looked like a tessellated work of pats of butter.
    Derived terms
    * pat on the back (n.) * patter * pitter-pat: a diminutive of footfalls. "the pitter-pat of little feet running around the house."

    Verb

    (patt)
  • To (gently) tap the flat of one's hand on a person or thing.
    • To show affection, he decided he would pat the boy on the head.
  • * 1877 , (Anna Sewell), (Black Beauty) Chapter 22[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Black_Beauty/22]
    • He came round to each of us to pat and speak to us for the last time; his voice sounded very sad.
  • To hit lightly and repeatedly with the flat of the hand to make smooth or flat
    • I patted the cookie dough into shape.
  • * 1900 , L. Frank Baum , The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chapter 23
    • Before they went to see Glinda, however, they were taken to a room of the Castle, where Dorothy washed her face and combed her hair, and the Lion shook the dust out of his mane, and the Scarecrow patted himself into his best shape, and the Woodman polished his tin and oiled his joints.
  • (Australia, New Zealand) To stroke or fondle (an animal).
    • Do you want to pat the cat?
  • To gently rain.
    • Derived terms
    * pat down * pat on the back (v.)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • timely, suitable, apt, opportune, ready for the occasion; especially of things spoken
    • a pat expression
  • * 1788, Cowper, Pity for Africans , p 18
    • A story so pat , you may think it is coined.
  • trite, being superficially complete, lacking originality
  • * 2010, New York Times , Editorial: Jobs and the Class of 2010, May 23.
    • The pat answer is that college students should consider graduate school as a way to delay a job search until things turn around, and that more high school students should go to college to improve their prospects. ''
    Derived terms
    * pat hand

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • opportunely, in a timely or suitable way.
  • * c''. 1600 , William Shakespeare, '' III.iii
    • Now might I do it pat
  • Perfectly.
    • He has the routine down pat .
    Derived terms
    * pat in the middle

    See also

    * strike * hit * feel * name

    Etymology 2

    Abbreviation.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • patent
  • (knitting) pattern
  • * 2012 , Kari Cornell, Knitting Sweaters from around the World (page 52)
    • Work in pat to next underarm marker, sm, place next st on holder

    Anagrams

    * ----

    exact

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect.
  • Habitually careful to agree with a standard, a rule, or a promise; accurate; methodical; punctual.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
    • I see thou art exact of taste.
  • * 1661 , , The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond
    • During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant
  • Precisely or definitely conceived or stated; strict.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
    • An exact command, / Larded with many several sorts of reason.
  • (algebra, of a sequence of groups connected by homomorphisms) Such that the kernel of one homomorphism is the image of the preceding one.

    • Synonyms

    * (precisely agreeing) perfect, true, correct, precise * (precisely or definitely conceived or stated) strict * spot on

    Antonyms

    * (precisely agreeing) inexact, imprecise, approximate * (precisely or definitely conceived or stated) loose

    Derived terms

    * exactly * exactness * exact sequence

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To demand and enforce the payment or performance of.
    • to exact tribute, fees, or obedience
  • * Bible, Luke iii. 13
    • He said into them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
  • To make desirable or necessary.
  • * Massinger
    • My designs exact me in another place.
  • To forcibly obtain or produce.
    • to exact revenge

    Derived terms

    * exactable * exacter * exacting * exactor

    External links

    * * * 1000 English basic words ----