Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

pet1

[pet]
See more synonyms for pet on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.
  2. a person especially cherished or indulged; favorite: He was the teacher's pet.
  3. a thing particularly cherished.
Show More
adjective
  1. kept or treated as a pet: a pet lamb.
  2. especially cherished or indulged, as a child or other person.
  3. favorite; most preferred: a pet theory.
  4. showing fondness or affection: to address someone with pet words.
Show More
verb (used with object), pet·ted, pet·ting.
  1. to fondle or caress: to pet a dog.
  2. to treat as a pet; indulge.
Show More
verb (used without object), pet·ted, pet·ting.
  1. Informal. to engage in kissing, caressing, and other sexual activity with one’s partner, but not sexual intercourse.
Show More

Origin of pet1

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

See more synonyms for pet on Thesaurus.com
9. baby, humor, pamper, favor.

pet2

[pet]
noun
  1. a fit of peevishness, sulking, or bad mood.
Show More
verb (used without object)
  1. to be peevish; sulk.
Show More

Origin of pet2

1580–90; origin uncertain; cf. pettish

PET

[pet]
  1. positron emission tomography.
Show More
Compare PET scan.

pet.

  1. petroleum.
Show More

Pet.

  1. Peter.
Show More
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for pet

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • She had been a pet all her life, and, like most pets, her eye partook of the human quality.

  • 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.

  • It had been the dear pet plan they had nursed in common with all the parish.

  • 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

pet1

noun
  1. a tame animal kept in a household for companionship, amusement, etc
  2. a person who is fondly indulged; favouriteteacher's pet
Show More
adjective
  1. kept as a peta pet dog
  2. of or for pet animalspet food
  3. particularly cherished; favouritea pet theory; a pet hatred
  4. familiar or affectionatea pet name
  5. pet day Scot and Irish a single fine day during a period of bad weather
Show More
verb pets, petting or petted
  1. (tr) to treat (a person, animal, etc) as a pet; pamper
  2. (tr) to pat or fondle (an animal, child, etc)
  3. (intr) informal (of two people) to caress each other in an erotic manner, as during lovemaking (often in the phrase heavy petting)
Show More
Derived Formspetter, noun

Word Origin

C16: origin unknown

pet2

noun
  1. a fit of sulkiness, esp at what is felt to be a slight; pique
Show More
verb pets, petting or petted
  1. (intr) to take offence; sulk
Show More

Word Origin

C16: of uncertain origin

PET

abbreviation for
  1. positron emission tomography
Show More
n acronym for
  1. 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
Show More

Pet.

abbreviation for
  1. Peter
Show More
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.

Show More

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.

Show More

v.

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.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
pet in Medicine

PET

abbr.
  1. positron emission tomography
Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Idioms and Phrases with pet

pet

In addition to the idiom beginning with pet

  • pet peeve

also see:

  • teacher's pet
Show More
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.