pat Meaning & Definition
What Does Pat Mean?
Pat is a symbol that means Former ISO 639-3 language code for Papitalai. As a noun, it means The sound of a light slap or tap with a soft flat object, especially of a footstep. As a verb, it means To (gently) tap the flat of one's hand on a person or thing.
Pat at a Glance
| Part of speech | symbol, noun, verb, adjective, adverb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /pæt/ |
| Synonyms | glib, appropriate and plausible |
| Plural | pats |
| Comparative / superlative | more pat, most pat |
| Verb forms | pats, patting, patted |
Pat Definition (Symbol)
- Former ISO 639-3 language code for Papitalai.
Pat as a Noun
- The sound of a light slap or tap with a soft flat object, especially of a footstep.
We heard a pat on the door.
- A light tap or slap, especially with the hands.
Give Mary a pat on the shoulder to get her attention.
- A flattish lump of soft matter, especially butter or dung.
Pat as a Verb
- To (gently) tap the flat of one's hand on a person or thing.
To show affection, he decided he would pat the boy on the head.
- To hit lightly and repeatedly with the flat of the hand to make smooth or flat
I patted the cookie dough into shape.
- To stroke or fondle (an animal). Compare pet.
Do you want to pat the cat?
- To gently rain.
Pat as an Adjective
- Exactly suitable, fitting, apt; timely, convenient, opportune, ready for the occasion; especially of things spoken.
a pat expression
- Trite, being superficially complete, lacking originality.
Pat as an Adverb
- Opportunely, in a timely or suitable way.
- Perfectly.
He has the routine down pat.
- Straight, right, exactly, precisely.
Noun
- Clipping of patent.
- Clipping of pattern.
Adjective
- Upper-class, nobby.
Verb
- To stroke or fondle (an animal).
Do you want to pat the cat?
Adjective
- Timely, suitable, apt, opportune, ready for the occasion; especially of things spoken.
a pat expression
Noun
- Patent.
- Pattern.
Synonyms of Pat
Pat synonyms and antonyms →Pat in a Sentence
We heard a pat on the door.
Give Mary a pat on the shoulder to get her attention.
To show affection, he decided he would pat the boy on the head.
I patted the cookie dough into shape.
Do you want to pat the cat?
a pat expression
He has the routine down pat.
Word Forms & Grammar
pat (plural pats)
pat (third-person singular simple present pats, present participle patting, simple past and past participle patted or (colloquial) pat)
pat (comparative more pat, superlative most pat)
Words That Rhyme With Pat
Origin of Pat
Origin 1: From Middle English pat (“a blow, stroke”), alteration (with loss of medial l) of *plat (> Scots plat (“a blow, buffet”)), from Old English plætt (“a sounding blow, a smack”), from Proto-West Germanic *platt (“a smack, slap, blow”), from Proto-Germanic *plat- (“to strike, beat”), from Proto-Indo-European *blod-, *bled- (“to strike, beat”). Cognate with Middle Dutch plat (“a smack, blow, slap”), Middle Low German plat (“a smack, blow, beating”), Middle High German plaz, blaz (“a resounding blow, bang, crash”). For loss of l, compare patch for platch; pate for plate, etc. See plat.
Origin 2: From Middle English *patten, alteration (with loss of medial l) of platten, pletten (“to pat”), from Old English plættan (“to buffet, strike, slap, smack, give a sounding blow”), from Proto-West Germanic *plattjan, from Proto-Germanic *plat- (“to strike, beat”), from Proto-Indo-European *blod-, *bled- (“to strike, beat”). Cognate with Middle Dutch platten, pletten (“to strike, bruise, crush, rub”), German platzen (“to split, burst, break up”), Bavarian patzen (“to pat”), Swedish plätta, pjätta (“to pat, tap”). For loss of l, compare patch for platch; pate for plate, etc. See plat.
Origin 3: Clipping of patrician.
Pat: Your Questions Answered
Is pat a symbol or a noun?
Pat is mainly used as a symbol, but it can also be used as a noun, a verb, an adjective and an adverb.
What is another word for pat?
Words with a similar meaning to pat include glib, appropriate and plausible. See the full list of pat synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of pat?
The plural of pat is pats.
What is the past tense of pat?
The past tense of pat is patted. The present participle is patting.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of pat?
The comparative form is more pat and the superlative form is most pat.