pat
[verb]
Synonyms:
- stroke, caress, fondle, pet, tap, touch
[noun]
Synonyms:
- stroke, clap, tap

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English Thesaurus: touch, feel, handle, finger, rub, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. pat¹ /pæt/ verb (past tense and past participle patted, present participle patting) [transitive]

1. to lightly touch someone or something several times with your hand flat, especially to give comfort ⇒ stroke:
He patted the dog affectionately.

2. pat somebody/yourself on the back to praise someone or yourself for doing something well:
You can pat yourselves on the back for a job well done.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. pat² noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Origin: From the sound made by patting]

1. a friendly act of touching someone with your hand flat:
Mrs Dodd gave the child a pat on the head.

2. pat of butter a small flat amount of butter

3. a pat on the back informal praise for something that you have done well:
Alex deserves a pat on the back for all his hard work.
⇒ cowpat

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. pat³ adjective [usually before noun]
a pat answer or explanation seems too quick and too simple and sounds as if it has been used before:
There are no pat answers to these questions.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

IV. pat⁴ adverb

1. have something off pat British English, have something down pat American English to know something thoroughly so that you can say it, perform it etc immediately without thinking about it Synonym : (off) by heart

2. stand pat American English to refuse to change your opinion or decision

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

pat
noun
ADJ. affectionate, friendly | reassuring
VERB + PAT give sb/sth He gave the dog a pat.
PREP. ~ on He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

pat
verb
ADV. gently, lightly | affectionately
PREP. on He patted her gently on the shoulder.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

touch to put your fingers or hand onto someone or something for a very short time:
Don’t touch the iron – it’s hot!
feel to touch something with your fingers in order to find out about it:
Feel how soft this material is.
I felt his forehead. It was cold.
handle to touch something and pick it up and hold it in your hands:
Children should always wash their hands before handling food.
The glass was very fragile, and she handled it with great care.
Please do not handle the merchandise.
finger to touch or handle something with your fingers, especially while you are thinking of other things:
She fingered the heavy necklace around her neck.
rub to move your hand over a surface while pressing it:
Bob rubbed his eyes and yawned.
scratch to rub part of your body with your nails, often because it ITCHES:
The dog kept scratching its ear.
Bob scratched his head thoughtfully.
tickle to move your fingers lightly over someone’s body in order to make them laugh:
The baby giggled as I tickled him.
grope to touch someone’s body in a sexual way when they do not want to be touched:
The officer was accused of groping several women in his platoon.
stroke to move your hand gently over something, especially in a loving way:
She stroked the child’s hair.
Our cat won’t let people stroke him.
pat to touch an animal or child lightly several times, with your hand flat:
He knelt down to pat the dog.
She patted the little boy’s head.
pet to touch and move your hand gently over someone, especially an animal or child:
The goats, pigs, sheep, and cows here allow you to pet them.
caress /kəˈres/ to gently touch a part of someone’s body in a loving way:
a mother caressing her child
She caressed his cheek.
fondle to touch a part of someone’s body in a loving or sexual way – use this especially about touching someone in a sexual way that is not wanted:
He tried to fondle her and she immediately pulled away from him.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

pat
̈ɪpæt
See: pit-a-pat , stand pat

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

PAT
Process Action Team

[TahlilGaran] Acronyms and Abbreviations Dictionary ▲