pat

1
[ pat ]
See synonyms for pat on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),pat·ted, pat·ting.
  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.

  1. to strike (the floor, ground, etc.) with light footsteps.

verb (used without object),pat·ted, pat·ting.
  1. to strike lightly or gently.

  2. to walk or run with light footsteps.

noun
  1. a light stroke, tap, or blow with the palm, fingers, or a flat object.

  2. the sound of a light stroke or of light footsteps.

  1. a small piece or mass, usually flat and square, formed by patting, cutting, etc.: a pat of butter.

Idioms about pat

  1. a pat on the back, a word of praise, congratulations, or encouragement: Everyone needs a pat on the back now and then.

  2. pat down, to pat or pass the hands over the body of (a clothed person) to detect concealed weapons, drugs, etc.

  1. pat on the back, to praise, congratulate, or encourage: The boss patted him on the back for the deal he made yesterday.

Origin of pat

1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English pat “blow, stroke,” apparently of expressive origin

Other words for pat

Other words from pat

  • un·pat·ted, adjective

Other definitions for pat (2 of 5)

pat2
[ pat ]

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.

  1. learned, known, or mastered perfectly or exactly: to have something pat.

adverb
  1. exactly or perfectly.

  2. aptly; opportunely.

Origin of pat

2
First recorded in 1570–80; originally adverbial use of pat1, as obsolete to hit pat “to strike accurately”

Other words from pat

  • patness, noun
  • patter, noun

Other definitions for Pat (3 of 5)

Pat
[ pat ]

noun
  1. a male given name, form of Patrick.

  2. a female given name, form of Patricia.

Other definitions for PAT (4 of 5)

PAT

  1. Football. point after touchdown; points after touchdown.

  2. Banking. preauthorized automatic transfer.

Other definitions for pat. (5 of 5)

pat.

abbreviation
  1. patent.

  2. patented.

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

How to use pat in a sentence

  • Who would make the ornamental butter-pats for the Anglebury and Sandbourne ladies?

  • A fair representative of the amorous goddess—quite liberal with her love pats!

  • Adeliza flew gracefully to and fro with the rolls, the vinegar bottle with perforated cork, and the little pats of butter.

  • When that chore boy was most come I did give Savonarola good-bye pats on his velvet nose.

    The Story of Opal | Opal Whiteley
  • And so she did with all the butter, until it was all in little cakes; and those cakes of butter they call pats.

    The Sandman: His Farm Stories | William J. Hopkins

British Dictionary definitions for pat (1 of 4)

pat1

/ (pæt) /


verbpats, patting or 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

  1. (tr) to shape, smooth, etc, with a flat instrument or the palm

  2. (intr) to walk or run with light footsteps

  3. pat someone on the back informal to congratulate or encourage someone

noun
  1. a light blow with something flat

  2. a gentle slap

  1. a small mass of something: a pat of butter

  2. the sound made by a light stroke or light footsteps

  3. pat on the back informal a gesture or word indicating approval or encouragement

Origin of pat

1
C14: perhaps imitative

British Dictionary definitions for pat (2 of 4)

pat2

/ (pæt) /


adverb
  1. Also: off pat exactly or fluently memorized or mastered: he recited it pat

  2. opportunely or aptly

  1. stand pat

    • mainly US and Canadian to refuse to abandon a belief, decision, etc

    • (in poker, etc) to play without adding new cards to the hand dealt

adjective
  1. exactly right for the occasion; apt: a pat reply

  2. too exactly fitting; glib: a pat answer to a difficult problem

  1. exactly right: a pat hand in poker

Origin of pat

2
C17: perhaps adverbial use (``with a light stroke'') of pat 1

British Dictionary definitions for pat (3 of 4)

pat3

/ (pæt) /


noun
  1. on one's pat Australian informal alone; on one's own

Origin of pat

3
C20: rhyming slang, from Pat Malone

British Dictionary definitions for Pat (4 of 4)

Pat

/ (pæt) /


noun
  1. an informal name for an Irishman

Origin of Pat

4
from Patrick

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 pat

pat

In addition to the idiom beginning with pat

  • pat on the back

also see:

  • stand pat

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