pat

pat

pat¹ [pat]

adj.

[prob. < PAT²]

1. apt; timely; opportune

2. exactly suitable

3. so glibly plausible as to seem contrived

4. designating a poker hand to which no cards are drawn because of the unlikelihood of improving it

adv.

in a pat manner

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have down pat or have pat [pas tel′ist, pas′tel ist]

Informal to know or have memorized thoroughly

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☆ stand pat

1. Poker to draw no further cards and play the hand as dealt

2. to refuse to turn aside from an opinion, course of action, etc.

patness

n.

pat² [pat]

n.

[ME patte, prob. echoic]

1. a quick, gentle tap, touch, or stroke with the hand or some flat object

2. the sound made by this

3. a small lump or mass, as of butter

4. a mass of animal dung [cow pats covered the pasture]

vt.

patted, patting

1.

a) to tap, touch, or stroke quickly or gently, esp. with the hand, as in affection, sympathy, or encouragement

b) to tap or stroke lightly with something flat

2. to flatten, shape, apply, etc. by patting

vi.

1. to pat a surface

2. to move along with a patting sound, as in running

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pat on the back

1. a compliment or encouragement

2. to compliment or praise

pat³

abbrev.

1. patent

2. patented