pet
An animal kept as a companion or otherwise for pleasure, rather than for some practical benefit or use.
Noun 4 meanings
An animal kept as a companion or otherwise for pleasure, rather than for some practical benefit or use.
“family pet, pet cat, pet dog, pet store”
Something kept as a companion, including inanimate objects.
“pet plant, pet rock”
One who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment.
Any person or animal especially cherished and indulged; a darling.
Verb 4 meanings
To stroke or fondle (an animal).
“I really love to pet cute puppies.”
To stroke or fondle (another person) amorously.
“We started petting each other the moment we were alone.”
To keep or treat (an animal) as a pet.
To treat (someone) as a pet; to fondle; to indulge.
“His daughter was petted and spoiled.”
Adjective 2 meanings
Favourite; cherished; the focus of one's (usually positive) attention.
“a pet project”
Kept or treated as a pet.
Etymology
Originally northern dialectal, from Scots pet (“an animal that has been tamed and is kept as a pet; a darling or favourite; a petted or spoiled child”), probably from Scottish Gaelic peata (“pet, tamed animal, spoiled child”), from Middle Irish petta, peta (“pet, lap-dog”), of uncertain origin, possibly from a pre-Indo-European substrate.
Similar and opposite words
PET at a glance
PET has 3 letters and scores 5 points in Scrabble (P 3 + E 1 + T 1) and 6 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #3,257 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with pet
All rhymes- CARPET10
- PUPPET12
- TRUMPET11
- SNIPPET11
- MUPPET12
- PARAPET11
- POPPET12
- LIMPET10
- WHIPPET17
- CRUMPET13
- TIPPET10
- STRUMPET12
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