pet

¹

[ pet ]

/ pɛt /

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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.

Nearby words

pestilent, pestilential, pestle, pesto, pesty, pet, pet name, pet parent, pet peeve, pet scan, pet scanner

Origin of pet

¹

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

SYNONYMS FOR pet

9 baby, humor, pamper, favor.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pet ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formspet·ta·ble, adjective

Definition for pet (2 of 5)

pet

²

[ pet ]

/ pɛt /

noun

a fit of peevishness, sulking, or bad mood.

verb (used without object)

to be peevish; sulk.

Origin of pet

²

1580–90; origin uncertain; cf. pettish

Definition for pet (3 of 5)

PET

[ pet ]

/ pɛt /

positron emission tomography.

Compare PET scan.

Definition for pet (4 of 5)

pet.

Definition for pet (5 of 5)

Pet.

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
Course, I sends back the roguish wink, and by the end of the week we was callin' each other by our pet names.
Torchy|Sewell Ford
Without this she could not hold the stallion, and he was no pet to come at her caressing call of the double notes.
Tharon of Lost Valley|Vingie E. Roe
The comparative failure of this, Cromwell's pet enterprise, was a bitter blow to the Protector.
The Buccaneers in the West Indies in the XVII Century|Clarence Henry Haring
A short time before our party arrived, some person tried to pet a bear and was bitten in the wrist.
With God in the Yellowstone|Alma White
Dutchy, who had looked rather crestfallen at a suggestion of an improvement on his pet invention, now suddenly brightened up.
The Scientific American Boy|A. Russell (Alexander Russell) Bond

British Dictionary definitions for pet (1 of 4)

pet

¹

/ (pɛt) /

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

British Dictionary definitions for pet (2 of 4)

pet

²

/ (pɛt) /

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

British Dictionary definitions for pet (3 of 4)

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

British Dictionary definitions for pet (4 of 4)

Pet.

/ Bible /

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 (1 of 3)

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.

Word Origin and History for pet (1 of 3)

pet

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.

Word Origin and History for pet (2 of 3)

pet

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for pet

PET

abbr.

positron emission tomography

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.