1. With the second syllable accented (
pâté, pronounced approximately "pa-TAY"), a spread made of
liver,
butter and
spices. Pate can be made with the liver of
chicken,
duck,
calf and other meat and poultry. The classic pâté,
Pâté de Foie Gras, is made with
goose livers.
2. More generally, any sort of meat paste, made of finely ground, cooked meat. This is also pronounced
"pa-TAY".
3. When rhymed with "fate", a pate is a head or especially the top of the head.