verb
Being short, he hated it when people affectionately patted him on the head. Pat down the coverlet to smooth out the wrinkles
The sales manager patted me on the back for clinching the contract
noun
Give the dog a pat and he'll leave you alone
The waiter put a pat of butter on my plate
I was expecting a big bonus, but all I got was a pat on the back
adverb
She has the new technique pat
His reply came out a little too pat
adjective
The poet made a very pat comparison
US