pet

noun7

1. •
   an animal that someone owns and cares for as a friend, not for any useful job it does

   • My dog Fido has been a loyal pet for ten years.
2. •
   Something kept as a companion, including inanimate objects.

   • Papyrus: This is my brother's pet rock. He always forgets to feed it. As usual, I have to take responsibility. — 2015
3. •
   Any person or animal especially cherished and indulged; a darling.

   • the love of cronies, pets, and favourites — 1710
4. •
   (Ireland) A term of endearment usually applied to women and children.
5. •
   One who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment.
6. •
   A fit of petulance, a sulk, arising from the impression that one has been offended or slighted.

   • Buck Mulligan sat down in a sudden pet. — 1922
7. •
   Abbreviation of petition.

verb7

1. •
   To stroke or fondle (an animal).

   • I really love to pet cute puppies.
2. •
   (informal) To stroke or fondle (another person) amorously.

   • We started petting each other the moment we were alone.
3. •
   (old-fashioned) To keep or treat (an animal) as a pet.
4. •
   (old-fashioned) To treat (someone) as a pet; to fondle; to indulge.

   • His daughter was petted and spoiled.
5. •
   To be petulant or upset; to have a problem with.

   • Got suttin' in the glove compartment and I won't pet to use it — 2019
6. •
   (no longer used) To be peevish; to sulk.

   • He sure is queasie stomach't that must pet, and puke, at such a trivial circumstance — 1623
7. •
   (no longer used) To be a pet.

adjective3

1. •
   Kept or treated as a pet.
2. •
   (figurative) Favourite; cherished; the focus of one's (usually positive) attention.

   • The professor seemed offended by the criticism of her pet theory.
3. •
   (no longer used) Good; ideal.

   • “Now,” said Hands, “look there; there’s a pet bit for to beach a ship in. Fine flat sand, never a cat's paw, trees all around of it, and flowers a-blowing like a garding on that old ship.” — 1881

noun5

1. •
   Acronym of positron emission tomography.
2. •
   Initialism of polyethylene terephthalate.
3. •
   (historical) Acronym of personal electronic transactor, a line of personal computers produced by Commodore International.

   • Why is the order of graphical characters in the PETSCII table so seemingly haphazard? The answer is that arrangement was dictated by the PET keyboard design, a hardware-driven decision. — 2014
4. •
   Acronym of paired-end tag.
5. •
   Initialism of perineal ectopic testis (a rare congenital anomaly of the testis).