PAT (patted, patting)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: patted    , patting   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pat mean? 

• PAT (noun)
  The noun PAT has 2 senses:

1. the sound made by a gentle blow

2. a light touch or stroke

  Familiarity information: PAT used as a noun is rare.

• PAT (adjective)
  The adjective PAT has 2 senses:

1. having only superficial plausibility

2. exactly suited to the occasion

  Familiarity information: PAT used as an adjective is rare.

• PAT (verb)
  The verb PAT has 2 senses:

1. pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin

2. hit lightly

  Familiarity information: PAT used as a verb is rare.

• PAT (adverb)
  The adverb PAT has 1 sense:

1. completely or perfectly

  Familiarity information: PAT used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PAT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The sound made by a gentle blow

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

pat; rap; tap

Hypernyms ("pat" is a kind of...):

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pat"):

pitter-patter (a series of rapid tapping sounds)

Derivation:

pat (hit lightly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A light touch or stroke

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

dab; pat; tap

Hypernyms ("pat" is a kind of...):

touch; touching (the act of putting two things together with no space between them)

Derivation:

pat (hit lightly)

pat (pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin)

• PAT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having only superficial plausibility

Synonyms:

glib; pat; slick

Context example:

a slick commercial

Similar:

plausible (apparently reasonable and credible, and therefore convincing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Exactly suited to the occasion

Context example:

a pat reply

Similar:

appropriate (suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc)

Derivation:

patness (timely convenience)

• PAT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they pat    ... he / she / it pats   
Past simple: patted   
Past participle: patted   
-ing form: patting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

chuck; pat

Hypernyms (to "pat" is one way to...):

caress; fondle (touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

pat (a light touch or stroke)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Hit lightly

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

dab; pat

Context example:

pat him on the shoulder

Hypernyms (to "pat" is one way to...):

strike (deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

pat (a light touch or stroke)

pat (the sound made by a gentle blow)

• PAT (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Completely or perfectly

Context example:

had the system down pat

 Context examples 

“I take my leave of you, Mr. Creakle, and all of you,” said Mr. Mell, glancing round the room, and again patting me gently on the shoulders.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

She threw her arms around the Lion's neck and kissed him, patting his big head tenderly.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Another stick of the penknife, when she pretended to pat my head: and that is because I said I did not like the society of children and old women (low be it spoken!).

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

“Come, wifie,” said Harrison, patting her on the shoulder.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At such times White Fang leaned in close against the master's legs and received reassuring pats on the head.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Then she stood by my side in silence for a bit, and then put up her hand and patted me on the shoulder.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Who are you, and how do you get my name so pat?” the countryman answered, with a suspicious flash of a pair of cunning eyes.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They sat with their arms twined around each other, and in the pause her mother patted her hand and waited for her to go on.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As I did so, I heard the rapid pit-pat of a swiftly driven horse's feet.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)