/ pæt; NAmE / verb , noun , adjective , adverb
■ verb
( -tt- ) to touch sb/sth gently several times with your hand flat, especially as a sign of affection :
[ vn ]
She patted the dog on the head.
He patted his sister's hand consolingly.
[ vn - adj ]
Pat your face dry with a soft towel.
•
IDIOMS
- pat sb / yourself on the back
■ noun
1.
a gentle friendly touch with your open hand or with a flat object :
a pat on the head
He gave her knee an affectionate pat.
2.
pat of butter a small, soft, flat lump of butter
—see also cowpat
•
IDIOMS
- a pat on the back (for sth / for doing sth)
■ adjective
(usually disapproving ) ( of an answer, a comment, etc. ) too quick, easy or simple; not seeming natural or realistic
SYN glib :
The ending of the novel is a little too pat to be convincing.
There are no pat answers to these questions.
■ adverb
•
IDIOMS
- have / know sth off pat
- stand pat
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb and noun late Middle English (as a noun denoting a blow with something flat): probably imitative. The verb dates from the mid 16th cent.
adjective and adverb late 16th cent.: related to pat (verb); apparently originally symbolic: a frequently found early use was hit pat (i.e. hit as if with flat blow).