noun
petting
PEH-tihng
Petting (noun) means the act of gently stroking or patting an animal. Example: “Kids lined up at the petting zoo to stroke the goats.”
noun
1
The act of gently stroking or patting an animal.
"Kids lined up at the petting zoo to stroke the goats."
2
Kissing and touching someone in a sexual but non-penetrative way.
"The teenagers were caught petting in the back row of the cinema."
How to use petting
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither affectionately touching an animal, or physically fooling around with a romantic partner short of sex.
Common pairings
petting zoo
heavy petting
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Word forms
- Plural
- pettings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Kids lined up at the _____ zoo to stroke the goats.
Related words
Rhymes for petting
setting
wetting
getting
letting
betting
netting
vetting
abetting
fretting
upsetting
resetting
forgetting
See all rhymes for petting →
Frequently asked questions
What does “petting” mean?
The word “petting” means the act of gently stroking or patting an animal. In plain terms, either affectionately touching an animal, or physically fooling around with a romantic partner short of sex.
How do you pronounce “petting”?
“Petting” is pronounced PEH-tihng (/ˈpɛtɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “petting” in a sentence?
Here is “petting” used in a sentence: “Kids lined up at the petting zoo to stroke the goats.”
What part of speech is “petting”?
“Petting” is a noun.
How many meanings does “petting” have?
“Petting” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of gently stroking or patting an animal.
