pet Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
  2. noun a special loved one
    ducky; favourite; deary; favorite; dearie; darling.
  3. noun a fit of petulance or sulkiness (especially at what is felt to be a slight)
  4. noun using a computerized radiographic technique to examine the metabolic activity in various tissues (especially in the brain)
    positron emission tomography.
  5. verb stroke or caress gently
    • pet the lamb
  6. verb stroke or caress in an erotic manner, as during lovemaking
  7. adjective satellite preferred above all others and treated with partiality
    preferent; favored; favorite; preferred; favourite; best-loved.
    • the favored child

WordNet

Pet noun
Etymology
Formerly peat, perhaps from Ir. peat, akin to Gael. peata.
Definitions
  1. A cade lamb; a lamb brought up by hand.
  2. Any person or animal especially cherished and indulged; a fondling; a darling; often, a favorite child.
    The love of cronies, pets, and favorites. Tatler.
  3. Prob. fr. Pet a fondling, hence, the behavior or humor of a spoiled child. A slight fit of peevishness or fretfulness. "In a pet she started up." Tennyson.
Pet adjective
Definitions
  1. Petted; indulged; admired; cherished; as, a pet child; a pet lamb; a pet theory.
    Some young lady's pet curate. F. Harrison.
    also petcock
Pet transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Petted; present participle & verbal noun Petting
Definitions
  1. To treat as a pet; to fondle; to indulge; as, she was petted and spoiled.
Pet intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be a pet. Feltham.

Webster 1913