pat1

[pat] /pæt/
verb (used with object), patted, patting.
1.
to strike lightly or gently with something flat, as with a paddle or the palm of the hand, usually in order to flatten, smooth, or shape:
to pat dough into flat pastry forms.
2.
to stroke or tap gently with the palm or fingers as an expression of affection, approbation, etc.
3.
to strike (the floor, ground, etc.) with light footsteps.
verb (used without object), patted, patting.
4.
to strike lightly or gently.
5.
to walk or run with light footsteps.
noun
6.
a light stroke, tap, or blow with the palm, fingers, or a flat object.
7.
the sound of a light stroke or of light footsteps.
8.
a small piece or mass, usually flat and square, formed by patting, cutting, etc.:
a pat of butter.
Idioms
9.
a pat on the back, a word of praise, congratulations, or encouragement:
Everyone needs a pat on the back now and then.
10.
pat down, to pat or pass the hands over the body of (a clothed person) to detect concealed weapons, drugs, etc.
11.
pat on the back, to praise, congratulate, or encourage:
The boss patted him on the back for the deal he made yesterday.
Origin
1375-1425; late Middle English pat blow, stroke, apparently of expressive orig.
Related forms
unpatted, adjective
Synonyms
8. square, cake, dab.

pat2

[pat] /pæt/
adjective
1.
exactly to the point or purpose; apt; opportune:
a pat solution to a problem.
2.
excessively glib; unconvincingly facile:
His answers were too pat to suit the examining board.
3.
learned, known, or mastered perfectly or exactly:
to have something pat.
adverb
4.
exactly or perfectly.
5.
aptly; opportunely.
Idioms
6.
down pat, mastered or learned perfectly:
If you're an actor, you have to get your lines down pat.
Also, down cold.
7.
stand pat,
  1. to cling or hold firm to one's decision, policy, or beliefs:
    The government must stand pat in its policy.
  2. Poker. to play a hand as dealt, without drawing other cards.
Origin
1570-80; orig. adverbial use of pat1, as obsolete to hit pat to strike accurately
Related forms
patness, noun
patter, noun

Pat

[pat] /pæt/
noun
1.
a male given name, form of Patrick.
2.
a female given name, form of Patricia.

PAT

1.
Football. point after touchdown; points after touchdown.
2.
Banking. preauthorized automatic transfer.

pat.

1.
patent.
2.
patented.

McCormick

[muh-kawr-mik] /məˈkɔr mɪk/
noun
1.
Anne Elizabeth O'Hare, 1882–1954, U.S. journalist, born in England.
2.
Cyrus Hall, 1809–84, U.S. inventor, especially of harvesting machinery.
3.
Patricia ("Pat") born 1930, U.S. diver.
4.
Robert Rutherford, 1880–1955, U.S. newspaper publisher.

Nixon

[nik-suh n] /ˈnɪk sən/
noun
1.
Richard M(ilhous)
[mil-hous] /ˈmɪl haʊs/ (Show IPA), 1913–94, 37th president of the U.S., 1969–74 (resigned).
2.
his wife, Thelma Catherine Ryan ("Pat") 1912–93, U.S. First Lady 1969–74.
Examples from the web for pat
  • But judging by the latest results from sleep research, you should be getting a pat on the back.
  • pat out the dough on an oiled sheet of parchment paper.
  • If you already back up your photos, consider this your pat on the back.
  • So a strategy of always switching wins twice as often as a strategy of standing pat.
  • Mix to coat, then pat ingredients into a single layer.
  • Thus, you eliminate the post-photo dance where you pat your pockets one by one until you find the cap again.
  • Everyone rushes into them, so the price rises sharply and investors pat themselves on the back for their shrewdness.
  • And pat yourself on the back for having done so the next apparently.
  • Once you've mastered mixing, pat yourself on the back.
  • pat the dirt down gently, but don't pack it down too tightly.
British Dictionary definitions for pat

pat1

/pæt/
verb pats, patting, patted
1.
to hit (something) lightly with the palm of the hand or some other flat surface: to pat a ball
2.
to slap (a person or animal) gently, esp on the back, as an expression of affection, congratulation, etc
3.
(transitive) to shape, smooth, etc, with a flat instrument or the palm
4.
(intransitive) to walk or run with light footsteps
5.
(informal) pat someone on the back, to congratulate or encourage someone
noun
6.
a light blow with something flat
7.
a gentle slap
8.
a small mass of something: a pat of butter
9.
the sound made by a light stroke or light footsteps
10.
(informal) pat on the back, a gesture or word indicating approval or encouragement
Word Origin
C14: perhaps imitative

pat2

/pæt/
adverb
1.
Also off pat. exactly or fluently memorized or mastered: he recited it pat
2.
opportunely or aptly
3.
stand pat
  1. (mainly US & Canadian) to refuse to abandon a belief, decision, etc
  2. (in poker, etc) to play without adding new cards to the hand dealt
adjective
4.
exactly right for the occasion; apt: a pat reply
5.
too exactly fitting; glib: a pat answer to a difficult problem
6.
exactly right: a pat hand in poker
Word Origin
C17: perhaps adverbial use (``with a light stroke'') of pat1

pat3

/pæt/
noun
1.
(Austral, informal) on one's pat, alone; on one's own
Word Origin
C20: rhyming slang, from Pat Malone

Pat

/pæt/
noun
1.
an informal name for an Irishman
Word Origin
from Patrick

McCormick

/məˈkɔːmɪk/
noun
1.
Cyrus Hall. 1809–84, US inventor of the reaping machine (1831)

Nixon

/ˈnɪksən/
noun
1.
Richard M(ilhous). 1913–94, US Republican politician; 37th president from 1969 until he resigned over the Watergate scandal in 1974
Derived Forms
Nixonian (nɪkˈsəʊnɪən) adjective
Word Origin and History for pat
n.

c.1400, "a blow, stroke," perhaps originally imitative of the sound of patting. Meaning "light tap with hand" is from c.1804. Sense of "that which is formed by patting" (as in pat of butter) is 1754, probably from the verb. Pat on the back in the figurative sense attested by 1804.

adv.

"aptly, suitably, at the right time," 1570s, perhaps from pat (adj.) in sense of "that which hits the mark," a special use from pat (n.) in sense of "a hitting" of the mark. The modern adjective is 1630s, from the adverb.

v.

1560s, "to hit, throw;" meaning "to tap or strike lightly" is from 1714; from pat (n.). Related: Patted; patting. The nursery rhyme phrase pat-a-cake is known from 1823. Alternative patty-cake (usually American English) is attested from 1794 (in "Mother Goose's Melody, or Sonnets for the Cradle," Worcester, Mass.).

Pat

as a fem. proper name, short for Patricia. As a masc. proper name, short for Patrick; hence a nickname for any Irishman.

Nixon

surname, variant of Nickson, literally "son of (a man named) Nick, English familiar form of Nicholas.

pat in Technology


1. Personalized Array Translator.
2. Port Address Translation.
(1998-05-09)

Related Abbreviations for pat

PAT

point after touchdown

pat.

patent
Idioms and Phrases with pat

pat

In addition to the idiom beginning with pat also see: stand pat