noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

pad

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Pad (noun) means a block of soft or absorbent material used for cushioning, cleaning, or protection. Example: “The nurse placed a clean gauze pad over the cut and taped it down.”

noun

A block of soft or absorbent material used for cushioning, cleaning, or protection.

"The nurse placed a clean gauze pad over the cut and taped it down."

"She pressed a cotton pad soaked in cleanser to her face."

"Wear knee pads before you try that skateboard trick."

A stack of sheets of paper joined at one edge for writing or drawing.

"She tore the top sheet off the pad and handed it to me."

"The artist carried a small sketch pad everywhere she went."

"He jotted the number down on a notepad."

verb

To walk with soft, quiet steps.

"I padded down the hallway in my socks so I wouldn't wake anyone."

"The old dog padded over to the door and waited to be let out."

"The cat padded silently across the kitchen floor."

To add unnecessary or dishonest extra material to make something seem bigger than it is.

"Some websites pad their articles with ads and repeated paragraphs to look longer."

"The contractor was accused of padding the invoice with fake charges."

"Don't pad your essay with filler sentences."

How to use pad

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA soft cushioning object or a notepad; as a verb, to move quietly or to artificially inflate something.

Common mistake

"Pad an expense report" means dishonestly inflate it, not physically cushion it — the figurative sense is very common in business English.

Common pairings

launch pad notepad pad an expense report pad softly

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: pads
Third person singular: pads
Past tense: padded

Test yourself on “pad” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The nurse placed a clean gauze _____ over the cut and taped it down.

Etymology

1554, "bundle of straw to lie on". Unknown, and unclear all senses have common etymology. For sense "ends of a digit", cf. Low German or West Flemish pad (“sole of the foot”), perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pent- (“to pass”), which would make it related to both path and find.

Synonyms

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cushion wad compress notepad jotter inflate launchpad inkpad domiciliation lodgings digs diggings

Related words

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Frequently asked questions

What does “pad” mean?

The word “pad” means a block of soft or absorbent material used for cushioning, cleaning, or protection. In plain terms, a soft cushioning object or a notepad; as a verb, to move quietly or to artificially inflate something.

How do you pronounce “pad”?

“Pad” is pronounced pad (/pæd/ in IPA).

How do you use “pad” in a sentence?

Here is “pad” used in a sentence: “She pressed a cotton pad soaked in cleanser to her face.”

What part of speech is “pad”?

Depending on how it is used, “pad” can be a noun and a verb.

Is “pad” a common word?

“Pad” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “pad” have?

“Pad” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a block of soft or absorbent material used for cushioning, cleaning, or protection.

What is the difference between a pad and a notebook?

A pad is a stack of sheets joined at one edge, usually so pages tear off cleanly, which suits quick disposable notes. A notebook is bound with a spiral, stitching, or covers so its pages stay in place, which suits notes you keep. Notepad and writing pad are fuller names for the paper pad.

What is the difference between a pad and a cushion?

Both involve soft material, but a cushion is normally a stuffed fabric case you sit on or lean against, while a pad is a flatter block of soft or absorbent material used for cushioning, cleaning, or protection — knee pads, make-up pads, scouring pads. As verbs they split too: to pad is to add filler, while to cushion is to soften an impact.

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