pâté

1 of 3

noun (1)

pâ·​té pä-ˈtā 

pa-

variants or less commonly pate

1

: a spread of finely chopped or pureed seasoned meat

chicken liver pâté

2

: a meat or fish pie or patty

pate

2 of 3

noun (2)

ˈpāt 

1

: head

A hat covered his bald pate.

2

: the crown of the head

combed his hair across his pate

3

usually disparaging : brain

pated

ˈpā-təd 

adjective

pâte

3 of 3

noun (3)

ˈpät 

: paste sense 2b

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• bean
• block [slang]
• dome
• head
• mazard [chiefly dialect]
• mazzard
• nob
• noddle
• noggin
• noodle
• nut [slang]
• poll

Example Sentences

Noun (2)

plopped a cap on his bald pate

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French, from Middle French pasté — more at pasty

Noun (2)

Middle English

Noun (3)

French, literally, paste, from Old French paste

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1706, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1863, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pâté

• pâté de foie gras

• pâté de foie gras

Kids Definition

pate

noun

ˈpāt 

: head entry 1 sense 1

especially : the top of the head

pated

ˈpāt-əd 

adjective