| 释义 |
pat
I. \ˈpat, usu -ad.+V\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English patte, probably of imitative origin
1.
a. : a blow especially with the hand or a flat or blunt instrument
b. : a light blow or tap given to shape or smooth
< a few final pats around the newly planted flower >
c. : a tap with the hand given in affection or approval
< with a quick reassuring pat on her arm, their hostess left — Harriet La Barre >
2. : a light tapping sound especially if rhythmical
< the pat of bare feet >
3. : something (as butter) shaped into a small flat usually square piece and served as an individual portion : dab
4. : a dropping of animal dung
< the most satisfactory control measure consists of scattering the cow pats — Eric Hearle >
5. : an American Negro dance tune in time with which onlookers often pat their knees or thighs
II. verb
(patted ; patted ; patting ; pats)
transitive verb
1. : to hit with a flat or blunt implement
2.
a. : to flatten, smooth, or put into place or shape with light strokes (as of the hand)
< women patted up tortillas by their stalls — G.A.Wagner >
b. : to beat or slap lightly
< at 70 miles an hour, pontoons pat the waves — Jim Wright >
3. : to stroke or tap gently with the hand to soothe, caress, or show approval
< had been patted on the head by … the city's founder — Alan Carmichael >
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to strike or beat gently
< snowflakes were patting against the windowpane — J.B.Clayton >
b. : to tap lightly and quickly with the soles of the feet (as in dancing a jig)
2. : to walk or run so as to make a light beating sound
< in summer she patted away to school — Hamlin Garland >
3. dialect : to keep time to dance music by patting the knee or thigh
•
- pat juba
- pat on the back
III. adverb
: in a pat manner : aptly, readily, promptly
IV. adjective
1.
a. : exactly suited to the purpose or occasion : apt, opportune
< this pat tale got a big laugh — Dorothy Barclay >
b. : too exactly suitable : contrived, facile, glib
< his characters flatten out, and his conclusions become annoyingly pat — Nicolas Monjo >
2. : learned, mastered, or memorized exactly or with ready or fluent command
< didn't say that prayer over twice before he had it pat — H.G.Wells >
3. : firm, unyielding — usually used in the phrase to stand pat
< a major issue on which it has stood pat since the matter first arose — Sydney (Australia) Bulletin >
Synonyms: see seasonable
V. noun
(-s)
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: from Pat, nickname for Patrick, a common Irish Christian name
1. : irishman
2. Australia : chinese
VI. abbreviation
1. patent; patented
2. patrol
3. pattern |