- 1a gentle friendly touch with your open hand or with a flat object a pat on the head He gave her knee an affectionate pat.
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- 2pat of butter a small, soft, flat lump of butter baked potatoes with a pat of butter and a sprinkle of paprika Idioms
praise or approval for something that you have done well He deserves a pat on the back for all his hard work. Give yourself a pat on the back!
Check pronunciation: pat