pet

[pet]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pet ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.

a person especially cherished or indulged; favorite: He was the teacher's pet.

a thing particularly cherished.

adjective

kept or treated as a pet: a pet lamb.

especially cherished or indulged, as a child or other person.

favorite; most preferred: a pet theory.

showing fondness or affection: to address someone with pet words.

verb (used with object), pet·ted, pet·ting.

to fondle or caress: to pet a dog.

to treat as a pet; indulge.

verb (used without object), pet·ted, pet·ting.

Informal. to engage in kissing, caressing, and other sexual activity with one’s partner, but not sexual intercourse.

Origin of pet

1500–10; (noun) perhaps back formation from pet lamb cade lamb, shortened variant of petty lamb little lamb (see petty); (v.) derivative of the noun

Related formspet·ta·ble, adjective

Synonyms for pet

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pet ON THESAURUS.COM

9. baby, humor, pamper, favor.

pet

[pet]

noun

a fit of peevishness, sulking, or bad mood.

verb (used without object)

to be peevish; sulk.

Origin of pet

1580–90; origin uncertain; cf. pettish

PET

[pet]

positron emission tomography.

Compare PET scan.

pet.

petroleum.

Pet.

Peter.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for pet

treasure, dog, lover, fondle, coddle, cuddle, caress, pamper, loved, favored, preferred, endearing, dear, darling, special, cherished, dearest, evergreen, love, jewel

Examples from the Web for pet

Contemporary Examples of pet

Owing to its popularity as a pet, it has spread across the Pacific to China.
The Buddhist Business of Poaching Animals for Good Karma
Brendon Hong
December 28, 2014
This season is all about monitoring posture, scrutinizing sun exposure, even exploring the health of a pet.
Nothing Says I Love You Like Data
The Daily Beast
December 8, 2014
When POTUS asked Malia if she wanted to pet the turkey before he granted its reprieve, she responded appropriately: “Nah.”
GOP Flack Throws Shade at First Teens
Olivia Nuzzi
November 29, 2014
As he describes why he plans to spend the rest of his days in Kisangani, a pet parrot gnaws on his Rolex.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis
Nina Strochlic
November 23, 2014
He even launched a Facebook campaign on an animal welfare page from his hospital room to try to save the pet.
Ebola in Europe: What Went Wrong
Barbie Latza Nadeau
October 8, 2014

Historical Examples of pet

She had been a pet all her life, and, like most pets, her eye partook of the human quality.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
Between the two he contented himself with the pet name of Saffy.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
Poor Mart Colson would not have known what to do with a pet name.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
It had been the dear pet plan they had nursed in common with all the parish.
Quaint Courtships
Various
I did not know you had been in a yard before—says you were the pet at Elmore's in London.
Night and Morning, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton

British Dictionary definitions for pet

pet

noun

a tame animal kept in a household for companionship, amusement, etc

a person who is fondly indulged; favouriteteacher's pet

adjective

kept as a peta pet dog

of or for pet animalspet food

particularly cherished; favouritea pet theory; a pet hatred

familiar or affectionatea pet name

pet day Scot and Irish a single fine day during a period of bad weather

verb pets, petting or petted

(tr) to treat (a person, animal, etc) as a pet; pamper

(tr) to pat or fondle (an animal, child, etc)

(intr) informal (of two people) to caress each other in an erotic manner, as during lovemaking (often in the phrase heavy petting)

Derived Formspetter, noun

Word Origin for pet

C16: origin unknown

pet

noun

a fit of sulkiness, esp at what is felt to be a slight; pique

verb pets, petting or petted

(intr) to take offence; sulk

Word Origin for pet

C16: of uncertain origin

PET

abbreviation for

positron emission tomography

n acronym for

potentially exempt transfer: a procedure in the UK whereby gifting property and cash is tax-free, provided that the donor lives for at least seven years after the gift is made

Pet.

abbreviation for

Peter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for pet

n.1

"tamed animal," originally in Scottish and northern England dialect (and exclusively so until mid-18c.), of unknown origin. Sense of "indulged child" (c.1500) is recorded slightly earlier than that of "animal kept as a favorite" (1530s), but the latter may be the primary meaning. Probably associated with or influenced by petty. As a term of endearment by 1849. Teacher's pet is attested from 1890. Pet-shop from 1928.

n.2

"peevishness, offense at feeling slighted," 1580s, in phrase take the pet "take offense." Perhaps from pet (n.1) on a similar notion to that in American English that gets my goat, but the underlying notion is obscure, and the form of the original expression makes this doubtful. This word seems to have been originally a southern English term, while pet (n.1) was northern and Scottish.

1620s, "treat as a pet," from pet (n.1). Sense of "to stroke" is first found 1818. Slang sense of "kiss and caress" is from 1920 (implied in petting). Related: Petted.

pet in Medicine

PET

abbr.

positron emission tomography

Idioms and Phrases with pet

pet

In addition to the idiom beginning with pet

pet peeve

also see:

teacher's pet