Pat vs Perfect - What's the difference?
pat | perfect | Synonyms |
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
To (gently) tap the flat of one's hand on a person or thing.
* 1877 , (Anna Sewell), (Black Beauty) Chapter 22[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Black_Beauty/22]
To hit lightly and repeatedly with the flat of the hand to make smooth or flat
* 1900 , L. Frank Baum , The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chapter 23
(Australia, New Zealand) To stroke or fondle (an animal).
To gently rain.
timely, suitable, apt, opportune, ready for the occasion; especially of things spoken
* 1788, Cowper, Pity for Africans , p 18
trite, being superficially complete, lacking originality
* 2010, New York Times ,
opportunely, in a timely or suitable way.
* c''. 1600 , William Shakespeare, '' III.iii
Perfectly.
patent
(knitting) pattern
* 2012 , Kari Cornell, Knitting Sweaters from around the World (page 52)
Fitting its definition precisely.
:
Having all of its parts in harmony with a common purpose.
:
Without fault or mistake; thoroughly skilled or talented.
:
Excellent and delightful in all respects.
:
*
*:They burned the old gun that used to stand in the dark corner up in the garret, close to the stuffed fox that always grinned so fiercely. Perhaps the reason why he seemed in such a ghastly rage was that he did not come by his death fairly. Otherwise his pelt would not have been so perfect . And why else was he put away up there out of sight?—and so magnificent a brush as he had too.
Representing a completed action.
(lb) Sexually mature and fully differentiated.
(lb) Of flowers, having both male (stamens) and female (carpels) parts.
(lb) Of a set, that it is equal to its set of limit points, i.e. set A'' is perfect if ''A =A'.
(lb) Describing an interval or any compound interval of a unison, octave, or fourths and fifths that are not tritones.
(lb) Made with equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth.
:
(lb) Well informed; certain; sure.
*(William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
*:I am perfect that the Pannonians are now in arms.
To make perfect; to improve or hone.
(legal) To take an action, usually the filing of a document in the correct venue, that secures a legal right.
Pat is a synonym of perfect.
As an adjective perfect is
fitting its definition precisely.As a noun perfect is
(grammar) the perfect tense, or a form in that tense.As a verb perfect is
to make perfect; to improve or hone.pat
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) . For loss of ''l , compare (patch) for (platch); (pate) for (plate), etc. See (l).Noun
(en noun)- 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 show affection, he decided he would pat the boy on the head.
- He came round to each of us to pat and speak to us for the last time; his voice sounded very sad.
- I patted the cookie dough into shape.
- 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.
- Do you want to pat the cat?
Derived terms
* pat down * pat on the back (v.)Adjective
(en adjective)- a pat expression
- A story so pat , you may think it is coined.
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 handAdverb
(en adverb)- Now might I do it pat
- He has the routine down pat .
Derived terms
* pat in the middleSee also
* strike * hit * feel * nameEtymology 2
Abbreviation.Noun
(en noun)- Work in pat to next underarm marker, sm, place next st on holder
Anagrams
* ----perfect
English
Alternative forms
*Etymology 1
From (etyl) perfit, from (etyl) parfit (modern: parfait), from (etyl) perfectus, perfect passive participle of . Spelling modified 15c. to conform Latin etymology.Adjective
(en adjective)Synonyms
* (fitting its definition precisely) accurate, flawless * (without fault or mistake) faultless, infallible * (thoroughly skilled or talented) expert, proficient * mature * bisexual, hermaphroditic * See alsoAntonyms
* (fitting its definition precisely) flawed * (without fault or mistake) faulty, faultful, fallible * imperfectDerived terms
* future perfect * nobody's perfect * past perfect * perfect number * perfect pitch * picture-perfect * pixel-perfect * practice makes perfect * present perfect * word-perfectEtymology 2
From (perfect) (adjective) or from (etyl)Verb
(en verb)- I am going to perfect this article.
- You spend too much time trying to perfect your dancing.
- perfect''' an appeal''; '''''perfect''' an interest''; '''''perfect a judgment