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pat 1 (păt)
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v. pat·ted, pat·ting, pats
v.tr.
1.
a. To tap gently with the open hand or with something flat.
b. To stroke lightly as a gesture of affection. See Synonyms at caress.
2. To mold by tapping gently with the hands or a flat implement.
v.intr.
1. To run or walk with a tapping sound.
2. To hit something or against something gently or lightly.
n.
1. A light gentle stroke or tap.
2. The sound made by a light stroke or tap or by light footsteps.
3. A small mass shaped by or as if by patting: a pat of butter.
Idiom:
pat on the back
An expression or gesture of praise or approval: Let's give them a pat on the back for doing a good job.

[From Middle English, a blow, perhaps of imitative origin.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
pat 2 (păt)
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adj.
1.
a. Suitable; fitting: "Suggestions about her reasons for going are made indirectly, lightly and ambiguously; no pat explanation is offered" (Janna Malamud Smith).
b. Fitting or satisfactory in a superficial or contrived way, especially in being trite or glib: "The dialogue is sometimes stilted and the ending too pat" (Leonard Malkin).
2. Games Being a poker hand that is strong enough to make drawing cards unlikely to improve it.
adv.
Informal
Readily or perfectly as a result of memorization or familiarization: They've got the system down pat. He has the lesson pat.

[From PAT1.]

patly adv.
patness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
pat.
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abbr.
patent

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
PAT
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abbr.
point after touchdown

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.