verb (used with object)
1.
to strike lightly or gently with something flat, as with a paddle or the palm of the hand, usually in order to flatten, smooth, or shape: to pat dough into flat pastry forms.
2.
to stroke or tap gently with the palm or fingers as an expression of affection, approbation, etc.
3.
to strike (the floor, ground, etc.) with light footsteps.
verb (used without object)
4.
to strike lightly or gently.
5.
to walk or run with light footsteps.
00:10
Pat
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is yaff. Does it mean:
| chat, to converse |
| to bark; yelp. |
noun
Idioms 6.
a light stroke, tap, or blow with the palm, fingers, or a flat object.
7.
the sound of a light stroke or of light footsteps.
8.
a small piece or mass, usually flat and square, formed by patting, cutting, etc.: a pat of butter.
9.
a pat on the back, a word of praise, congratulations, or encouragement: Everyone needs a pat on the back now and then.
10.
pat down, to pat or pass the hands over the body of (a clothed person) to detect concealed weapons, drugs, etc.
11.
pat on the back, to praise, congratulate, or encourage: The boss patted him on the back for the deal he made yesterday.
Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English pat blow, stroke, apparently of expressive orig.
1375–1425; late Middle English pat blow, stroke, apparently of expressive orig.
Related forms
un·pat·ted, adjective
Synonyms
8. square, cake, dab.
8. square, cake, dab.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
adjective
1.
exactly to the point or purpose; apt; opportune: a pat solution to a problem.
2.
excessively glib; unconvincingly facile: His answers were too pat to suit the examining board.
3.
learned, known, or mastered perfectly or exactly: to have something pat.
adverb
Idioms 4.
exactly or perfectly.
5.
aptly; opportunely.
6.
down pat, mastered or learned perfectly: If you're an actor, you have to get your lines down pat. Also, down cold.
7.
stand pat,
a.
to cling or hold firm to one's decision, policy, or beliefs: The government must stand pat in its policy.
b.
Poker. to play a hand as dealt, without drawing other cards.
Related forms
pat·ness, noun
pat·ter, noun
PAT
1.
Football. point after touchdown; points after touchdown.
2.
Banking. preauthorized automatic transfer.
pat.
1.
2.
patented.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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|
Link To pat
Collins
World English Dictionary
pat1 (pæt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb , pats, patting, patted | |
| 1. | to hit (something) lightly with the palm of the hand or some other flat surface: to pat a ball |
| 2. | to slap (a person or animal) gently, esp on the back, as an expression of affection, congratulation, etc |
| 3. | (tr) to shape, smooth, etc, with a flat instrument or the palm |
| 4. | (intr) to walk or run with light footsteps |
| 5. | informal pat someone on the back to congratulate or encourage someone |
| —n | |
| 6. | a light blow with something flat |
| 7. | a gentle slap |
| 8. | a small mass of something: a pat of butter |
| 9. | the sound made by a light stroke or light footsteps |
| 10. | informal pat on the back a gesture or word indicating approval or encouragement |
| [C14: perhaps imitative] | |
| pat2 (pæt) | |
| —adv | |
| 1. | Also: off pat exactly or fluently memorized or mastered: he recited it pat |
| 2. | opportunely or aptly |
| 3. | stand pat |
| a. chiefly (US), (Canadian) to refuse to abandon a belief, decision, etc | |
| b. (in poker, etc) to play without adding new cards to the hand dealt | |
| —adj | |
| 4. | exactly right for the occasion; apt: a pat reply |
| 5. | too exactly fitting; glib: a pat answer to a difficult problem |
| 6. | exactly right: a pat hand in poker |
| [C17: perhaps adverbial use (``with a light stroke'') of | |
| pat3 (pæt) | |
| —n | |
| informal (Austral) on one's pat alone; on one's own | |
| [C20: rhyming slang, from Pat Malone] | |
| Pat (pæt) | |
| —n | |
| an informal name for an Irishman | |
| [from Patrick] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
pat
c.1400, "a blow, stroke," perhaps originally imitative of the sound of patting. The verb "to tap or strike lightly" is attested from c.1600, and the noun "light tap with hand" is from c.1804. The noun sense "that which is formed by patting" (as in pat of butter) is 1754, probably from the verb. The nursery
rhyme phrase pat-a-cake is known from 1874.
pat
"apt, suitably," 1578, perhaps a special use of pat (n.) in sense of "hitting" the mark. The adj. is 1638, from the adverb.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
PAT definition
1.
2.
(1998-05-09)
American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
| PAT point after touchdown |
| pat. patent |
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
They were told to pat dry afterward and apply a heavy slathering of moisturizer.
If you have that kind of commitment, you probably don't need a device to give you a pat on the back.
Thus, you eliminate the post-photo dance where you pat your pockets one by one until you find the cap again.
If you already back up your photos, consider this your pat on the back.
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