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# pussycat

«pussycat» in Mova's school dictionary: **A cat, especially a friendly pet cat: «Here, pussycat!»** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

noun (a pussycat, pussycats) — informal

### meaning for a pupil

1) (informal, children's) A cat, especially a friendly pet cat: «Here, pussycat!» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pussycat/#m1)

2) (informal) A gentle, kind person who seems tough but is soft and easy to like: «He looks scary but he's a pussycat really.» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pussycat/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In nursery rhymes and children's stories it is a cosy word for a cat: «The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea» (Edward Lear) and «Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?» In everyday talk it describes someone softer than they look. Phrases: «a big pussycat», «pussycat, pussycat».

### examples

- The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pussycat/#x1)
- «Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?» «I've been to London to visit the Queen.» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pussycat/#x2)
- Our pussycat sleeps on the radiator. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pussycat/#x3)
- The big rugby player is a total pussycat with his little sister. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pussycat/#x4)
- The baby pointed and said «pussycat!» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pussycat/#x5)
- The guard dog turned out to be a pussycat. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pussycat/#x6)

### note

Countable: pussycat, pussycats; also «pussy-cat» or «puss». It is a babyish or cosy word; in school writing use «cat». Short form «puss» is fine (Puss in Boots), but the short form «pussy» also has a rude adult meaning, so say «pussycat», «puss» or «cat».

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «pussycat» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pussycat/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.