(~s, ~ting, ~ted)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is an animal that you keep in your home to give you company and pleasure.
It is plainly cruel to keep turtles as ~s.
...a bachelor living alone in a flat with his ~ dog...
N-COUNT
2.
Someone’s ~ theory, project, or subject is one that they particularly support or like.
He would not stand by and let his ~ project be killed off...
ADJ
3.
If you ~ a person or animal, you touch them in an affectionate way.
The policeman reached down and ~ted the wolfhound...
VERB: V n