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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

pet

/pɛt/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
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What does pet mean?

noun

  1. An animal kept as a companion or otherwise for pleasure, rather than for some practical benefit or use.
  2. Something kept as a companion, including inanimate objects.
  3. One who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment.
More meanings (20)

noun

  1. Any person or animal especially cherished and indulged; a darling.
  2. A fit of petulance, a sulk, arising from the impression that one has been offended or slighted.
  3. Abbreviation of petition.
  4. A term of endearment usually applied to women and children.
  5. Initialism of polyethylene terephthalate.
  6. Acronym of positron emission tomography.
  7. Acronym of paired-end tag.
  8. Initialism of perineal ectopic testis (a rare congenital anomaly of the testis).
  9. (historical) Acronym of personal electronic transactor, a line of personal computers produced by Commodore International.

verb

  1. To stroke or fondle (an animal).
  2. (informal) To stroke or fondle (another person) amorously.
  3. To be petulant or upset; to have a problem with.
  4. (dated) To keep or treat (an animal) as a pet.
  5. (dated) To treat (someone) as a pet; to fondle; to indulge.
  6. (archaic) To be a pet.
  7. (archaic) To be peevish; to sulk.

adjective

  1. (figuratively) Favourite; cherished; the focus of one's (usually positive) attention.
  2. Kept or treated as a pet.
  3. (obsolete) Good; ideal.

proper noun

  1. Initialism of Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/pɛt/

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

“All sorts of people who are not in the least degree worthy of the pet, are always turning up,” said Miss Pross.
Charles DickensA Tale of Two CitiesProject Gutenberg ebook #98
So don't be mulish, dear- Although I say it, darling, It's not your line, my pet— I play that part, you bet!
Arthur Sullivan; W. S. (William Schwenck) GilbertThe Complete Plays of Gilbert and SullivanProject Gutenberg ebook #808
More book examples (3)
As a girl her mother ruled her, and her younger sister, more charming and more vivacious, was the pet of the family.
Abraham MyersonThe Foundations of PersonalityProject Gutenberg ebook #1575
Women, old and young, some of the latter very good-looking, and a large number of children, besides pet animals, enlivened the encampment.
Henry Walter BatesThe Naturalist on the River AmazonsProject Gutenberg ebook #2440
Sends out oiled betel-nuts to invite the guests and when one refuses to attend they grow on him or his pet pig.
Fay-Cooper ColeA Study in Tinguian Folk-LoreProject Gutenberg ebook #7017