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

pat¹ Related Forms
pat·ness noun
pat¹ 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 pat·ted, 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
  1. 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

pat² 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 )

pat Synonyms

pat

v.

  1. To strike lightly

    tap, beat, punch; see hit 1.

  2. To strike lightly and affectionately

    stroke, pet, rub; see caress.

pat Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • deserve: Give yourself a well deserved pat on the back.

Adjective modifier

  • ex: Mainly for ex pats: News from Bedford, England Week ending 18 October 1997 Beds.
  • big: A big pat on the back is justified for all of you involved.

Preposition: on

  • back: Give yourself a well deserved pat on the back.
  • shoulder: He'd go up to someone, smile, give a pat on the shoulder or an A-frame hug.
  • head: Daniel almost expected a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears.

Modifying Another Word

  • gently: Drain the raisins and gently pat them dry with paper towels.

Modifies a noun

  • toomey: Issues of today pat toomey join of our day couples openly engaging.
  • packard: All how to pat packard says then proposed to money you'll spend.
  • tester: Please Note: Most PAT equipment testers will simply issue a certificate to say when the equipment is due for test or was tested.
  • dog: Apart from Agility Inca is a registered PAT dog visiting residential care homes every Thursday.
  • gene: How safe is the pat gene product in Chardon LL?
  • testing: PAT testing can be carried out on campus at the beginning of the Autumn Semester.

Adjective complement

  • dry: When patted dry with kitchen paper, bunches of parsley can be deep-fried in hot oil and used as a garnish.

Preposition: of

  • butter: You were doing fine with the bread roll, do you really need that pat of butter?

Noun used with modifier

  • congressman: Crowds gathered on prices ever starting congressman pat toomey island at noon.
  • auntie: AUNTIE PAT: Do you know, I've got where I'm looking forward to the post coming in the morning.
  • postman: POSTMAN PAT asks Veronica Gumfloss: Where is Pongo's burger bar?
  • cow: For example, fungi help turn a cow pat into soil.
  • butter: Great Grandmother's house: household items, such as a flat iron, sugar nippers, butter pats and ginger beer bottle.

Browse dictionary entries near pat

  1. pasty
  2. pastureland
  3. pasture
  4. pasturage
  5. pasturable
  6. pastry bag
  7. pastry
  8. pastrami
  9. pastorium
  10. pastorate
  1. pat pend
  2. pat. pending
  3. pataca
  4. patagium
  5. Patagonia
  6. Patagonian
  7. pataphysics
  8. patch
  9. patch cord
  10. patch panel