pet

Universal Words noun, verb, adjective noun 1 an animal, a bird, etc. that you have at home for pleasure, rather than one that is kept for work or food: Do you have any pets? * a pet dog / hamster * a family / domestic pet * pet food * a pet shop (= where animals are sold as pets) 2 (usually disapproving) a person who is given special attention by sb, especially in a way that seems unfair to other people: She's the teacher's pet. 3 (BrE, spoken) used when speaking to a child or young woman to show affection: What's wrong, pet? * Be a pet (= be kind) and post this letter for me. verb (-tt-) 1 [VN] (especially AmE) to touch or move your hand gently over an animal or a child in a kind and loving way 2 [V] (informal) (of two people) to kiss and touch each other in a sexual way seealsoPETTING adjective [onlybeforenoun] that you are very interested in: his pet subject / theory / project seealsoPETNAME IDIOMS sb's pet hate (BrE) (AmE sb's pet peeve) something that you particularly dislike