pet

1
[ pet ]
See synonyms for pet on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.

  2. a person especially cherished or indulged; favorite: He was the teacher's pet.

  1. a thing particularly cherished.

adjective
  1. kept or treated as a pet: a pet lamb.

  2. especially cherished or indulged, as a child or other person.

  1. favorite; most preferred: a pet theory.

  2. showing fondness or affection: to address someone with pet words.

verb (used with object),pet·ted, pet·ting.
  1. to fondle or caress: to pet a dog.

  2. to treat as a pet; indulge.

verb (used without object),pet·ted, pet·ting.
  1. Informal. to engage in kissing, caressing, and other sexual activity with one’s partner, but not sexual intercourse.

Origin of pet

1
First recorded in 1500–10; perhaps back formation from pet lamb. shortened variant of petty lamb “little lamb”; see petty

Other words for pet

Other words from pet

  • pet·ta·ble, adjective

Other definitions for pet (2 of 5)

pet2
[ pet ]

noun
  1. a fit of peevishness, sulking, or bad mood.

verb (used without object)
  1. to be peevish; sulk.

Origin of pet

2
First recorded in 1590–1600; origin uncertain; cf. pettish

Other definitions for PET (3 of 5)

PET
[ pet ]

nounComputers, Medicine/Medical.

Origin of PET

3
First recorded in 1975–80

Other definitions for pet. (4 of 5)

pet.

abbreviation
  1. petroleum.

Other definitions for Pet. (5 of 5)

Pet.

abbreviation
  1. Peter.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for pet (1 of 4)

pet1

/ (pɛt) /


noun
  1. a tame animal kept in a household for companionship, amusement, etc

  2. a person who is fondly indulged; favourite: teacher's pet

adjective
  1. kept as a pet: a pet dog

  2. of or for pet animals: pet food

  1. particularly cherished; favourite: a pet theory; a pet hatred

  2. familiar or affectionate: a pet name

  3. pet day Scot and Irish a single fine day during a period of bad weather

verbpets, petting or petted
  1. (tr) to treat (a person, animal, etc) as a pet; pamper

  2. (tr) to pat or fondle (an animal, child, etc)

  1. (intr) informal (of two people) to caress each other in an erotic manner, as during lovemaking (often in the phrase heavy petting)

Origin of pet

1
C16: origin unknown

Derived forms of pet

  • petter, noun

British Dictionary definitions for pet (2 of 4)

pet2

/ (pɛt) /


noun
  1. a fit of sulkiness, esp at what is felt to be a slight; pique

verbpets, petting or petted
  1. (intr) to take offence; sulk

Origin of pet

2
C16: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for PET (3 of 4)

PET

abbreviation for
  1. positron emission tomography

n acronym for
  1. potentially exempt transfer: a procedure in the UK whereby gifting property and cash is tax-free, provided that the donor lives for at least seven years after the gift is made

British Dictionary definitions for Pet. (4 of 4)

Pet.

/ Bible /


abbreviation for
  1. Peter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with pet

pet

In addition to the idiom beginning with pet

  • pet peeve

also see:

  • teacher's pet

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.