Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The act or practice of amorously embracing, kissing, and caressing one's partner.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Present participle of pet.
  • noun The act of stroking or fondling an animal.
  • noun The act of kissing, stroking, etc., a person in a sexual manner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • "She had a nice life," I offered, once again petting another's pride.

    French Word-A-Day: 2009

  • "She had a nice life," I offered, once again petting another's pride.

    le mot juste - French Word-A-Day 2009

  • Meanwhile, I walk over and pick up this imaginary blue squirrel and begin petting it as I tell her you almost stepped on my squirrel!

    Archive 2009-01-01 jpitta 2009

  • Meanwhile, I walk over and pick up this imaginary blue squirrel and begin petting it as I tell her you almost stepped on my squirrel!

    The Squirrel Sagas jpitta 2009

  • “The rabbit’s getting pretty old, ” I persisted, having read the safety briefing in the “How Best to Enjoy Your Rabbit Experience” leaflet, “and petting is no longer mandatory.

    Excerpt: Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde 2009

  • The emphasis on heavy petting is probably inappropriate for very young children, but the children who started this series when very young are not very young anymore.

    Archive 2007-05-01 2007

  • The emphasis on heavy petting is probably inappropriate for very young children, but the children who started this series when very young are not very young anymore.

    What About Harry? 2007

  • The rest of his visit was passed in petting and admiring his daughter, and, having placed in her hand a gorgeous-looking porte-monnaie, he ventured to say, "that though it was hardly decorous he should allude to certain circumstances, yet he was aware that his good little Blanche must be making preparations for an expected happy event, and that he had brought his contribution to what he believed was called a layette."

    The Semi-Detached House 1859

  • Children may be petted, and dogs — though that too is bad; but what you call petting for grown persons is I think frivolous and almost indecent.”

    Phineas Finn 2004

  • Children may be petted, and dogs, — though that too is bad; but what you call petting for grown persons is I think frivolous and almost indecent. "

    Phineas Finn Trollope, Anthony, 1815-1882 1869

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