Pate
//peɪt// name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The head, particularly the top or crown. archaic
"He had a shiny, bald pate."
- 2 Alternative spelling of pâté (finely-ground paste of meat, fish, etc.) alt-of, alternative
- 3 the top of the head wordnet
- 4 Wit, cleverness, cognitive abilities. archaic
"I am reſolued, tis but a thee yeeres faſt: The minde ſhall banquet, though the body pine, Fat paunches haue leane pates: and daynty bits Make rich the ribbes, but banerout quite the wits."
- 5 The interior body, or non-rind portion of cheese, described by its texture, density, and color.
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- 6 liver or meat or fowl finely minced or ground and variously seasoned wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 An island of Kenya.
- 2 A surname.
Example
More examples"Miss Pate felt timid about making a speech before a hundred people."
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English pate, of uncertain origin. Perhaps a shortened form of Old French patene or Medieval Latin patena, both from Latin patina (“pan, dish”). Alternatively, perhaps akin to Old Frisian pote (“skull”).
Etymology 2
Attested since circa 1700, from French pâté, from Old French paste, pastée. Doublet of pâté and patty.
Related phrases
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.