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[pet] /pɛt/

noun
1.
any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.
2.
a person especially cherished or indulged; favorite:
He was the teacher’s pet.
3.
a thing particularly cherished.
adjective
4.
kept or treated as a pet:
a pet lamb.
5.
especially cherished or indulged, as a child or other person.
6.
favorite; most preferred:
a pet theory.
7.
showing fondness or affection:
to address someone with pet words.
verb (used with object), petted, petting.
8.
to fondle or caress:
to pet a dog.
9.
to treat as a pet; indulge.
verb (used without object), petted, petting.
10.
Informal. to engage in kissing, caressing, and other sexual activity with one’s partner, but not sexual intercourse.
[pet] /pɛt/
noun
1.
a fit of peevishness, sulking, or bad mood.
verb (used without object)
2.
to be peevish; sulk.
/pɛt/
noun
1.
a tame animal kept in a household for companionship, amusement, etc
2.
a person who is fondly indulged; favourite: teacher’s pet
adjective
3.
kept as a pet: a pet dog
4.
of or for pet animals: pet food
5.
particularly cherished; favourite: a pet theory, a pet hatred
6.
familiar or affectionate: a pet name
7.
(Scot & Irish) pet day, a single fine day during a period of bad weather
verb pets, petting, petted
8.
(transitive) to treat (a person, animal, etc) as a pet; pamper
9.
(transitive) to pat or fondle (an animal, child, etc)
10.
(intransitive) (informal) (of two people) to caress each other in an erotic manner, as during lovemaking (often in the phrase heavy petting)
/pɛt/
noun
1.
a fit of sulkiness, esp at what is felt to be a slight; pique
verb pets, petting, petted
2.
(intransitive) to take offence; sulk
abbreviation
1.
positron emission tomography
noun acronym
2.
potentially exempt transfer: a procedure in the UK whereby gifting property and cash is tax-free, provided that the donor lives for at least seven years after the gift is made
n.

“tamed animal,” originally in Scottish and northern England dialect (and exclusively so until mid-18c.), of unknown origin. Sense of “indulged child” (c.1500) is recorded slightly earlier than that of “animal kept as a favorite” (1530s), but the latter may be the primary meaning. Probably associated with or influenced by petty. As a term of endearment by 1849. Teacher’s pet is attested from 1890. Pet-shop from 1928.

“peevishness, offense at feeling slighted,” 1580s, in phrase take the pet “take offense.” Perhaps from pet (n.1) on a similar notion to that in American English that gets my goat, but the underlying notion is obscure, and the form of the original expression makes this doubtful. This word seems to have been originally a southern English term, while pet (n.1) was northern and Scottish.
v.

1620s, “treat as a pet,” from pet (n.1). Sense of “to stroke” is first found 1818. Slang sense of “kiss and caress” is from 1920 (implied in petting). Related: Petted.

PET abbr.
positron emission tomography

noun

Darling; sweetheart; doll: It’s you, pet! How frightfully tickety-boo! (1755+)

verb

To kiss and caress: torrid hugging, smooching, and petting (1924+)

Related Terms

heavy petting
1.
polyethylene terephthalate
2.
positron emission tomography
In addition to the idiom beginning with pet