pat Hear it!

pat1 definition

pat (pat)

adjective

  1. apt; timely; opportune
  2. exactly suitable
  3. so glibly plausible as to seem contrived
  4. designating a poker hand to which no cards are drawn because of the unlikelihood of improving it

Etymology: prob. < pat

adverb

in a pat manner

Related Forms:

pat Idioms

have (down) pat

Informal to know or have memorized thoroughly

stand pat

☆
  1. Poker to draw no further cards and play the hand as dealt
  2. to refuse to turn aside from an opinion, course of action, etc.
pat2 definition

pat (pat)

noun

  1. a quick, gentle tap, touch, or stroke with the hand or some flat object
  2. the sound made by this
  3. a small lump or mass, as of butter
  4. a mass of animal dung cow pats covered the pasture

Etymology: ME patte, prob. echoic

transitive verb patted pat′·ted, patting pat′·ting

    1. to tap, touch, or stroke quickly or gently, esp. with the hand, as in affection, sympathy, or encouragement
    2. to tap or stroke lightly with something flat
  2. to flatten, shape, apply, etc. by patting

intransitive verb

  1. to pat a surface
  2. to move along with a patting sound, as in running
pat Idioms

pat on the back

  1. a compliment or encouragement
  2. to compliment or praise
pat3 definition

pat

  1. patent
  2. patented
PAT definition

☆ PAT

Etymology: p(oint) a(fter) t(ouchdown)

conversion (sense )

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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