pat

¹pat

noun \ˈpat\

Definition of PAT

1

: a light blow especially with the hand or a flat instrument

2

: a light tapping often rhythmical sound

3

: something (as butter) shaped into a small flat usually square individual portion

— pat on the back

: an expression of approval

Examples of PAT

1. She gave the dog a quick pat.

Origin of PAT

Middle English patte, probably of imitative origin

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with PAT

bat, batt, blat, brat, cat, Cat, chat, chert, drat, fat, flat, frat, gat, gnat, hat, mat, Matt, matte, phat, plait, plat, Pratt, rat, sat, scat, scatt, skat, slat, spat, splat, sprat, stat, tat, that, vat

²pat

adverb

Definition of PAT

: in a pat manner : aptly, perfectly <has her part down pat>

Examples of PAT

1. <after months of practicing for the competition, the cheerleaders have their moves down pat>

First Known Use of PAT

1578

Related to PAT

Synonyms

faultlessly, flawlessly, ideally, immaculately, impeccably, perfectly

Antonyms

amiss, badly, defectively, faultily, imperfectly

Related Words

excellently, fabulously, finely, grandly, greatly, marvelously, superbly, superiorly, superlatively, terrifically; exceptionally, fancily, specially

Near Antonyms

deficiently, inadequately, incompletely, insufficiently; fallibly; atrociously, execrably, wretchedly

³pat

verb

pat·tedpat·ting

Definition of PAT

transitive verb

1

: to strike lightly with a flat instrument

2

: to flatten, smooth, or put into place or shape with light blows

3

: to tap or stroke gently with the hand to soothe, caress, or show approval

intransitive verb

: to strike or beat gently

Examples of PAT

1. The child gently patted the dog's head.
2. He patted my knee and told me everything would be fine.
3. He patted his hair down.
4. She patted the dough into a square.
5. He patted the lettuce dry with a paper towel.

First Known Use of PAT

1591

Related to PAT

Synonyms

caress, gentle, love, fondle, pet, stroke

Related Words

bill, canoodle, cuddle, neck, nestle, nose, nuzzle, snuggle, spoon; feel up, paw; cradle, embrace, enfold, hug; bounce, dandle; knead, massage; baby, coddle, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

⁴pat

adjective

Definition of PAT

1

a : exactly suited to the purpose or occasion : apt

b : suspiciously appropriate : contrived <a pat ending>

2

: learned, mastered, or memorized exactly

3

: firm, unyielding

4

: reduced to a simple or mechanical form : standard, trite <pat answers>

Examples of PAT

1. The movie's pat ending was a disappointment.
2. His explanation was too pat to be believable.

First Known Use of PAT

1646

Related to PAT

Synonyms

adamant, adamantine, bullheaded, dogged, hard, hardened, hardheaded, hard-nosed, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inconvincible, inflexible, intransigent, mulish, obdurate, opinionated, ossified, obstinate, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, self-opinionated, self-willed, stiff-necked, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful (or wilful)

Antonyms

acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, flexible, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding

Related Words

anal-retentive, obsessive; wayward, wrongheaded; determined, hell-bent, inexorable, persistent, relentless, resolved, set, single-minded, steadfast, stouthearted, tenacious, unflinching; firm, hard-line, hard-shell (or hard-shelled), iron, severe, stern, strict; hidebound, narrow-minded, rigid; bloody-minded [chiefly British], cantankerous; contrary, cussed; contumacious, disobedient, froward, insubordinate, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, uncooperative, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly; defiant, insurgent, mutinous; indomitable, invincible, unconquerable; confirmed, inveterate, unregenerate; demanding, exacting

Near Antonyms

docile, obedient, placable, submissive, tractable; accepting, persuadable, receptive, responsive, willing; governable, manageable, reasonable, temperate; slavish, subservient

⁵pat

abbreviation

Definition of PAT

patent

PAT

abbreviation

Definition of PAT

point after touchdown

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

crease, lateral, lax, overthrow, playbook, post, screen, scrum, secondary, ultimate