Definition of PET

pet

Meanings

Plural: pets

Noun

  • a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
  • a special loved one
  • a fit of petulance or sulkiness (especially at what is felt to be a slight)
  • using a computerized radiographic technique to examine the metabolic activity in various tissues (especially in the brain)
  • An animal kept as a companion.
  • Something kept as a companion, including inanimate objects. (pet rock, pet plant, etc.)
  • One who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment.
  • Any person or animal especially cherished and indulged; a darling.
  • A fit of petulance, a sulk, arising from the impression that one has been offended or slighted.
  • Abbreviation of petition.
  • A term of endearment usually applied to women and children.

Verb

  • stroke or caress gently
    • "pet the lamb"
  • stroke or caress in an erotic manner, as during lovemaking
  • To stroke or fondle (an animal).
  • To stroke or fondle (another person) amorously.
  • To treat as a pet; to fondle; to indulge.
  • To be a pet.
  • To be peevish; to sulk.
  • To be petulant or upset; to have a problem with.

Adjective Satellite

  • preferred above all others and treated with partiality

Adj

  • Favourite; cherished; the focus of one's (usually positive) attention.
  • Kept or treated as a pet.
  • Good; ideal.

Origin / Etymology

Attested since the 1500s in the sense "indulged child" and since the 1530s in the sense "animal companion". From Scots and dialectal Northern English, of unclear origin. Perhaps a back-formation of petty, pety (“little, small”), a term formerly used to describe children and animals (e.g. pet lambs). Alternatively, perhaps a borrowing of Scottish Gaelic peata, from Middle Irish petta, peta (“pet, lap-dog”), of uncertain (possibly pre-Indo-European substrate) origin. Compare peat (“pet, darling, woman”).
The verb is derived from the noun.

Synonyms

best-loved, coddle, companion animal, cosset, darling, dearie, deary, ducky, favored, favorite, favourite, feel up, fondle, grope, mope, pamper, pat, positron emission tomography, pout, preferent, preferred, smooth, touch up

Scrabble Score: 5

pet is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
pet is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
pet is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 6

pet is a valid Words With Friends word