Pronunciation: /pæt/
noun a light tap or stroke with the hand
A1 She gave the dog a gentle pat on the head.
A2 The baby giggled as his mother gave him a pat on the back.
B1 After a long day at work, he appreciated the pat on the shoulder from his boss.
B2 The coach gave each player a pat on the back for their hard work during the game.
C1 The professor received a pat on the back from his colleagues for his groundbreaking research.
C2 The CEO gave a pat on the back to the entire team for exceeding their sales targets.
verb to tap or stroke gently with the hand
A1 She patted the dog on the head.
A2 He patted his friend on the back to congratulate him.
B1 The coach patted the player on the shoulder after a good play.
B2 She gently patted the baby to help them fall asleep.
C1 The teacher patted the student on the back for their hard work on the project.
C2 He absentmindedly patted his pockets to check for his keys.
formal The doctor gently patted the patient on the shoulder to reassure them.
informal I always pat my dog on the head when I come home.
slang He gave me a pat on the back for finishing the project on time.
figurative Her speech was so moving, it really patted my heart.
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