pate

¹

[peyt]

noun

1. the crown or top of the head.

2. the head.

3. the brain.

pâté

²

[pah-tey, pa‑, pah-tey, pa‑]

noun

plural

pâtés 

1. French Cooking.,  a paste or spread made of puréed or finely chopped liver, meat, fish, game, etc., served as an hors d'oeuvre.

2. foie gras.

pâte

³

[paht]

noun

1. porcelain paste used in ceramic work.

pâté

¹

/ pɑte, ˈpæteɪ /

noun

1. a spread of very finely minced liver, poultry, etc, served usually as an hors d'oeuvre

2. a savoury pie of meat or fish

pate

²

/ peɪt /

noun

1. the head, esp with reference to baldness or (in facetious use) intelligence

Word History and Origins

Origin of pate¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, of uncertain origin

Origin of pate²

From French, dating back to 1695–1705; paste, -ee

Origin of pate³

First recorded in 1860–65; from French: literally, “dough, batter, paste”; paste

Word History and Origins

Origin of pate¹

from French: _paste ¹

Origin of pate²

C14: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

With his bald pate, dark-framed glasses and knowing demeanor, he has become one of the foremost chroniclers of the world’s media barons and Manhattan potentates.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The resulting mess, he said, left him with no choice but to start over with a clean pate.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Hey, maybe the president will fall in love with the city over the next three years — and maybe Miller’s bald pate will grow hair worthy of Samson.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Bánh mì is a Vietnamese sandwich served in a baguette, typically filled with meat, pate, pickles and spicy sauces.

Read more on BBC

I was all over his forehead and the dome of his pate.

Read more on Literature