Other

pet1

Syllabification: (pet)

Pronunciation: /pet/

Definition of pet

a domestic or tamed animal or bird kept for companionship or pleasure and treated with care and affection:the pony was a family pet [as modifier]:a pet cat
a person treated with special favor, especially in a way that others regard as unfair:Liz was teacher’s pet [as modifier]:his pet performer was Hollander
used as an affectionate form of address:don’t cry, pet, it’s all right

denoting a thing that one devotes special attention to or feels particularly strongly about:another of her pet projects was the arts center my pet hate is bad telephone manners

[with object]

stroke or pat (an animal) affectionately:the cats came to be petted
treat (someone) with affection or favoritism; pamper:I was cosseted and petted and never shouted at
[no object] engage in sexually stimulating caressing and touching:couples necking and petting in the cars

Derivatives

early 16th century (as a noun; originally Scots and northern English): of unknown origin

Definition of pet in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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