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19 dictionary results for: pet

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

pet1

[pet] Pronunciation Key noun, adjective, verb, pet·ted, pet·ting.

–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.

3.	a thing particularly cherished.

–adjective

4.	kept or treated as a pet: a pet lamb.

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

6.	favorite; most preferred: a pet theory.

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

–verb (used with object)

8.	to fondle or caress: to pet a dog.

9.	to treat as a pet; indulge.

–verb (used without object)

10.	Informal. to engage in amorous fondling and caressing.

[Origin: 1500–10; (n.) perh. back formation from pet lamb cade lamb, shortened var. of petty lamb little lamb (see petty); (v.) deriv. of the n.

]

—Related forms

pet·ta·ble, adjective

—Synonyms 8. baby, humor, pamper, favor.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

pet2

[pet] Pronunciation Key

–noun

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

–verb (used without object)

2.	to be peevish; sulk.

[Origin: 1580–90; orig. uncert.; cf. pettish

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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PET

[pet] Pronunciation Key

positron emission tomography.

Compare PET scan.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Pet.

Peter.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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pet.

petroleum.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

pet¹ (pět) Pronunciation Key
n.

An animal kept for amusement or companionship.
An object of the affections.
A person especially loved or indulged; a favorite: the teacher's pet.

adj.

Kept as a pet: a pet cat.
1. Particularly cherished or indulged: a pet grandchild.
2. Expressing or showing affection: a pet name.
Being a favorite: a pet topic.

v.   pet·ted, pet·ting, pets

v.   tr.
To stroke or caress gently; pat. See Synonyms at caress.

v.   intr. Informal
To make love by fondling and caressing.

[Scottish Gaelic peata, tame animal, pet, from Old Irish.]

pet'ter n.

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pet²   (pět) Pronunciation Key
n.   A fit of bad temper or pique.

intr.v.   pet·ted, pet·ting, pets
To be sulky and peevish.

[Origin unknown.]

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

PET
abbr. positron emission tomography

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positron emission tomography
n. Abbr. PET
Tomography in which a computer-generated image of a biological activity within the body is produced through the detection of gamma rays that are emitted when introduced radionuclides decay and release positrons.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
pet (1)

"tamed animal," originally Scot. and northern England dial., of unknown origin. Sense of "indulged child" (1508) is recorded slightly earlier than that of "animal kept as a favorite" (1539), but the latter may be the primary meaning. Probably associated with or influenced by petty. The verb is 1629 meaning "treat as a pet;" the sense of "to stroke" is first found 1818. Slang sense of "kiss and caress" is from 1920 (implied in petting, in F. Scott Fitzgerald). Teacher's pet is attested from 1914.

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pet (2)

"peevishness, offense at feeling slighted," 1590, in phrase take the pet "take offense." Perhaps from pet (1) on a similar notion to that in Amer.Eng. that gets my goat, but the underlying notion is obscure, and the form of the original expression makes this doubtful. This word seems to have been originally a southern Eng. term, while pet (1) was Scottish.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

pet
adjective
1.	preferred above all others and treated with partiality; "the favored child" [syn: favored]
noun
1.	a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
2.	a special loved one [syn: darling]
3.	a fit of petulance or sulkiness (especially at what is felt to be a slight)
4.	using a computerized radiographic technique to examine the metabolic activity in various tissues (especially in the brain) [syn: positron emission tomography]
verb
1.	stroke or caress gently; "pet the lamb"
2.	stroke or caress in an erotic manner, as during lovemaking

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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

pet

In addition to the idiom beginning with pet, also see teacher's pet.

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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

PET abbr.
positron emission tomography

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Pet

Pet\, n. [Formerly peat, perhaps from Ir. peat, akin to Gael. peata.]

1. A cade lamb; a lamb brought up by hand.

2. Any person or animal especially cherished and indulged; a fondling; a darling; often, a favorite child.

The love of cronies, pets, and favorites. --Tatler.

3. [Prob. fr. Pet a fondling, hence, the behavior or humor of a spoiled child.] A slight fit of peevishness or fretfulness. "In a pet she started up." --Tennyson.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Pet

Pet\, a. Petted; indulged; admired; cherished; as, a pet child; a pet lamb; a pet theory.

Some young lady's pet curate. --F. Harrison.

Pet cock. [Perh. for petty cock.] (Mach.) A little faucet in a water pipe or pump, to let air out, or at the end of a steam cylinder, to drain it.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Pet

Pet\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Petted; p. pr. & vb. n. Petting.] To treat as a pet; to fondle; to indulge; as, she was petted and spoiled.

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