touch quickly and gently with the flat of the hand

he patted him consolingly on the shoulder

a quick, light touch with the hand

giving him a friendly pat on the arm, she went off to join the others

a compact mass of soft material

a pat of butter

simple and somewhat glib or unconvincing

there are no pat answers to these questions

at exactly the right moment or in the right way; very conveniently or opportunely

the happy ending came rather pat

an Irishman (often as a form of address)