PETTING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does petting mean? 

• PETTING (noun)
  The noun PETTING has 1 sense:

1. affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)

  Familiarity information: PETTING used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PETTING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

caressing; cuddling; fondling; hugging; kissing; necking; petting; smooching; snuggling

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

arousal; foreplay; stimulation (mutual sexual fondling prior to sexual intercourse)

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

snogging ((British informal) cuddle and kiss)

Derivation:

pet (stroke or caress in an erotic manner, as during lovemaking)

 Context examples 

After studying himself to a skeleton all the week, a fellow deserves petting and ought to get it.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

At first suspicious and hostile, White Fang grew to like this petting.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“My woman, my one small woman,” I said, my free hand petting her shoulder in the way all lovers know though never learn in school.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Adults should make sure children who visit farms or petting zoos wash up as well.

(Animal Diseases and Your Health, NIH)

Then it was that Walt put forth special effort, making it a practice to have Wolf lie at his feet while he wrote, and, between petting and talking, losing much time from his work.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Growl he would, from the moment the petting began till it ended.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

"Yes, he has had an excellent education, and has much talent. He will make a fine man, if not spoiled by petting," replied her mother.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He was squatting down on his heels, face to face with White Fang and petting him—rubbing at the roots of the ears, making long caressing strokes down the neck to the shoulders, tapping the spine gently with the balls of his fingers.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

It was not only a pleasure, but a duty to answer them, for the poor fellow was forlorn, and needed petting, since Jo persisted in being stonyhearted.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

To go petting Papa and helping you, just to wheedle you into liking him.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)