pet

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a person who is treated better than others by someone in authority.

n. a person who is treated with particular favor or indulgence by a superior, often causing resentment in others.

“Everyone knew that Sarah was the teacher's pet because she always got the best jobs.”

“The manager was accused of having a teacher's pet after he consistently assigned the most lucrative accounts to the same junior associate.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English · Dialect

n. a friendly name you call someone you like, similar to 'dear' or 'love'.

n. a term of endearment used to address a person, particularly common in certain regional dialects.

“Don't worry about the rain, pet, we'll be home soon.”

“In parts of North East England, it is perfectly normal for a shopkeeper to address a customer as 'pet' regardless of their age.”

A2 · Elementary

v. to touch or rub an animal in a gentle and kind way.

v. to stroke or fondle an animal gently. Transitive, requiring a direct object.

“The children loved to pet the rabbits at the farm.”

“The therapy dog sat calmly, allowing the stressed students to pet its soft fur during the exam break.”

C1 · Advanced Informal

v. to touch or kiss someone in a romantic or sexual way.

v. to engage in amorous stroking or fondling of another person. Often used in the context of 'heavy petting'.

“The young couple were petting on the back row of the cinema.”

“The film was criticized for a scene involving heavy petting that many felt was unnecessary for the plot.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. describes a project, idea, or subject that you are very interested in.

adj. denoting a particular subject, theory, or project that is a special favorite. Always used before a noun.

“The professor spent years working on his pet theory about the origin of the universe.”

“The senator refused to cut funding for his pet project, even when the rest of the budget was being slashed.”