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Pat vs Pet - What's the difference?

pat | pet |

As nouns the difference between pat and pet

is that pat is the sound of a light slap or tap with a soft flat object, especially of a footstep while pet is an animal kept as a companion.

As verbs the difference between pat and pet

is that pat is to (gently) tap the flat of one's hand on a person or thing while pet is to stroke or fondle (an animal).

As adjectives the difference between pat and pet

is that pat is timely, suitable, apt, opportune, ready for the occasion; especially of things spoken while pet is favourite; cherished.

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.

As an acronym PET is

polyethylene terephthalate.

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

    * ----

    pet

    English

    Etymology 1

    Attested since the 1500s in the sense "indulged child" and since the 1530s in the sense "animal companion"..'>citation The verb is derived from the noun.

    Noun

    (wikipedia pet) {{ picdic , image=Pudel miniatura 342.jpg , detail1= }} (en noun)
  • An animal kept as a companion.
  • One who is excessively loyal to a superior.
  • Any person or animal especially cherished and indulged; a darling.
  • * Tatler
    • the love of cronies, pets , and favourites
    Synonyms
    * companion animal

    References

    Verb

    (pett)
  • To stroke or fondle (an animal).
  • (informal) To stroke or fondle (another person) amorously.
  • (informal) Of two or more people, to stroke and fondle one another amorously.
  • (dated) To treat as a pet; to fondle; to indulge.
    • His daughter was petted and spoiled.
  • (archaic) To be a pet.
    • (Feltham)
    Derived terms
    * pet cemetery * pet name * pet peeve * pet project * pet shop * pet store * petting * teacher's pet

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Favourite; cherished.
    • a pet child
    a pet theory
  • * F. Harrison
    • Some young lady's pet curate.

    Etymology 2

    .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A fit of petulance, a sulk, arising from the impression that one has been offended or slighted.
  • * 1891 , Mary Noailles Murfree, In the "Stranger People's" Country , Nebraska 2005, p. 105:
    • There was something ludicrous, even more, unbecoming a gentleman, in leaving a friend's house in a pet , with the host's reproaches sounding in his ears, to be matched only by the bitterness of the guest's sneering retorts.

    Etymology 3

    .

    Noun

    (en noun)

    • Etymology 4

    .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Geordie) A term of endearment usually applied to women and children.

    • References

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----