First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1pat
noun \ˈpat\
: an act of lightly touching someone or something with your hand to show affection or approval
: a small, flat, usually square piece of something (such as butter)
Full Definition of PAT
1
: a light blow especially with the hand or a flat instrument
2
: a light tapping often rhythmical sound
3
: something (as butter) shaped into a small flat usually square individual portion
— pat on the back
: an expression of approval
See pat defined for English-language learners
See pat defined for kids
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Origin of PAT
Middle English patte, probably of imitative origin
2pat
adverb
: learned completely or perfectly
Full Definition of PAT
See pat defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PAT
1578
Related to PAT
- Synonyms
- faultlessly, flawlessly, ideally, immaculately, impeccably, perfectly
- Antonyms
- amiss, badly, defectively, faultily, imperfectly
3pat
verb
: to lightly touch (someone or something) with your hand usually several times in order to show affection or approval or to provide comfort
: to flatten, smooth, or shape (something) by lightly pressing on it with your hand
: to lightly press (something) several times until it is dry
pat·tedpat·ting
Full Definition of PAT
transitive verb
1
: to strike lightly with a flat instrument
2
: to flatten, smooth, or put into place or shape with light blows
3
: to tap or stroke gently with the hand to soothe, caress, or show approval
intransitive verb
: to strike or beat gently
See pat defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PAT
1591
4pat
adjective
: said or done without any real thought or effort to be truthful or original
Full Definition of PAT
1
2
: learned, mastered, or memorized exactly
3
: firm, unyielding
See pat defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PAT
1646
Related to PAT
- Synonyms
- adamant, adamantine, bullheaded, dogged, hard, hardened, hardheaded, hard-nosed, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inconvincible, inflexible, intransigent, mulish, obdurate, opinionated, ossified, obstinate, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, self-opinionated, self-willed, stiff-necked, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful (or wilful)
5pat
abbreviation
Definition of PAT
patent
PAT
abbreviation
Definition of PAT
point after touchdown
PAT Defined for Kids
1pat
verb \ˈpat\
pat·tedpat·ting
Definition of PAT for Kids
: to tap or stroke gently with the open hand <He stopped to pat the dog.>
2pat
noun
Definition of PAT for Kids
1
: a light tap with the open hand or a flat instrument <She gave me a pat on the head.>
2
: the sound of a pat or tap
3
: a small flat piece (as of butter)
3pat
adjective
pat·terpat·test
Definition of PAT for Kids
1
: learned perfectly <I had my lines in the play down pat.>
2
: exactly suitable <a pat answer>
3
: not changing <He stood pat against all arguments.>
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