Dictionary Definition
pet adj : preferred above all others and treated
with partiality; "the favored child" [syn: favored, favorite(a),
favourite(a),
preferred]
Noun
1 a domesticated animal kept for companionship or
amusement
3 a fit of petulance or sulkiness (especially at
what is felt to be a slight)
4 using a computerized radiographic technique to
examine the metabolic activity in various tissues (especially in
the brain) [syn:
positron emission tomography]
Verb
1 stroke or caress gently; "pet the lamb"
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
- /pɛt/
-
- Rhymes with: -ɛt
Etymology 1
Originally and Northern English dialect, origin is unsure but may have arisen due to influence of petty pertaining to children and later companion animals.Noun
- An animal kept as a companion.
- One who is excessively loyal to their superior.
Synonyms
Translations
an animal kept as a companion
- Finnish: lemmikkieläin
- French: animal familier
- Spanish: mascota
one who is excessively loyal to their superior
- Finnish: lemmikki
checktrans-top Translations
to categorise
- Bulgarian: домашен любимец (domášen ljubímets)
- Dutch: huisdier
- Esperanto: dombesto
- German: Haustier
- Hebrew: חיית מחמד
- Hungarian: háziállat, házi kedvenc
- Norwegian: kjæledyr
- Russian: домашнее животное (domášneje živótnoje)
- Spanish: cacho , gorro
- Swedish: husdjur
References
Online Etymology DictionaryEtymology 2
See Etymology 1Verb
Translations
fondle (an animal)
- Danish: kæle
- Dutch: aaien
- French: caresser
- Italian: accarezzare
- Norwegian: kjæle
fondle (another person) amorously
- Danish: kæle
- Dutch: strelen
- French: peloter
- Norwegian: kjæle, kose med
(intrans.) fondle amorously
- French: se peloter
Derived terms
Etymology 3
Abbreviation of petition.pet
Etymology 4
Diminutive of petal.Noun
- A term of endearment usually applied to women and children.
References
Northeast Dialect 2005}}Bosnian
Cardinal number
Extensive Definition
A pet or companion animal is an animal kept for companionship and
enjoyment, as opposed to livestock, laboratory
animals, working
animals or sport
animals, which are kept for economic reasons. The most popular
pets are noted for their loyal or playful characteristics, for
their attractive appearance, or for their song. Pets also generally
seem to provide their owners with non-trivial health benefits;
keeping pets has been shown to help relieve stress to those who
like having animals around. There is now a medically-approved class
of "therapy animals," mostly dogs, who are brought to visit
confined humans. Walking a dog can provide both the owner and
the dog with exercise, fresh air, and social interaction.
Domestication
- Injuries, maulings and sometimes deaths caused by dog bites and attacks
- Disease or parasites due to animal hygiene problems (feces and urine)
- Stress caused by behavior of animals
- Fear or distress from animal presence or behavior
Pets and allergies
Some people with allergies can have adverse reactions to animal dander and fur or feathers. Some people with asthma can have attacks triggered by these.See also
- Animal Chaplains
- American Animal Hospital Association
- Animal hoarder
- Animal keeping
- Animal love
- Dog attack
- Human-animal bond
- List of U.S. Presidential pets
- Pet adoption
- Pet cloning
- Pet food
- Pet insurance
- Pet passport
- Pet sitting
- The Pet Network
- :Category:Veterinary medicine
- Zoonosis
- Pet loss:
- Alternative pets:
References
External links
- Companion Animal Demographics in the United States: A Historical Perspective from The State of the Animals II: 2003
- Free Cat Videos
pet in Bambara: Sokɔnɔbagan
pet in Bengali: পোষ্য
pet in Danish: Kæledyr
pet in German: Heimtier
pet in Estonian: Lemmikloomad
pet in Spanish: Mascota (animal)
pet in Esperanto: Dombesto
pet in French: Animal de compagnie
pet in Scottish Gaelic: Peata
pet in Ido: Dorloto
pet in Indonesian: Binatang peliharaan
pet in Italian: Animale da compagnia
pet in Hebrew: חיות מחמד
pet in Lithuanian: Naminiai gyvūnėliai
pet in Dutch: Huisdier
pet in Japanese: ペット
pet in Norwegian: Kjæledyr
pet in Portuguese: Animal de estimação
pet in Simple English: Pet
pet in Finnish: Lemmikkieläin
pet in Swedish: Sällskapsdjur
pet in Chinese: 寵物
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
admired, adored, angel, babe, baby, baby-doll, beloved, bill and coo, buttercup, caress, cherished, cherub, chick, chickabiddy, cocker, coddle, copulate, cosset, cuddle, dally, dandle, darling, dear, dearly beloved, deary, doll, duck, duckling, dudgeon, embrace, esteemed, favorite, feel up, ferment, fondle, fondling, fret, frictionize, fume, grump, held dear, high dudgeon,
hon, honey, honey bunch, honey child,
huff, hug, idol, jewel, knead, lamb, lambkin, lollygag, love, loved, lover, make love, make out,
massage, matinee idol,
miff, minion, neck, nose, nuzzle, pat, petkins, pique, popular, pout, precious, precious heart,
preference, prized, revered, rub, rub against, rub down, rub
noses, smooch, snookums, spoiled child,
spoon, stew, stroke, sugar, sweet, sweet-talk, sweetheart, sweetie, sweetkins, sweets, tiff, toy, treasured, trifle, wanton, well-beloved, well-liked,
whisper sweet nothings, white-haired