Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of pet
"The children brought their pets to the park, where a golden retriever and two parrots played together under the oak tree."
In plain English: Pets are animals that people keep as companions and take care of at home.
"I brought my dog and cat to the local park for our weekend walk with the other pets."
Usage: Use "pets" as a plural noun to refer to two or more domesticated animals kept for companionship, such as dogs or cats. Do not use this form when referring to the singular animal, which should be "pet.
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of pet
"She pets the cat gently before it drifts off to sleep on her lap."
In plain English: To pet means to stroke or touch an animal gently with your hand.
"She likes to pet her cat when she comes home from work."
Usage: Use "pets" to describe the action of someone stroking or caressing an animal's fur in a gentle way. This third-person singular verb form is correct when the subject is he, she, it, or a singular noun like "the dog."
Derived from Old French peter (to lick), the term originally referred to an animal that licks its master's hand as a sign of affection or submission. It entered English in the mid-16th century with this specific meaning before evolving to denote any domesticated animal kept for companionship.