petting
Americannoun
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the act of fondling or caressing.
Petting or massage may help calm a stressed or hyperactive dog.
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Informal. kissing, caressing, and other sexual activity between partners that does not involve sexual intercourse.
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the present participle of pet.
Etymology
Origin of petting
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He couldn’t even stand to see me petting an old hog, or a cat.
From Literature
There, visitors can spend time petting the rodents for about $32.
Signs on most kennels asked visitors to avoid putting their hands inside the kennels or petting the animals.
From Los Angeles Times
So I’d go and sit on the porch with Lulu on my lap, petting her but not paying any mind, so my hand was thump, thump, thumping on the top of her head.
From Literature
“Look at that,” she said, resting her hand on the top of Bat’s head and petting his hair, just as Bat stroked Thor.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
