/ pæd; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
OF SOFT MATERIAL
1.
a thick piece of soft material that is used, for example, for absorbing liquid, cleaning or protecting sth :
medicated cleansing pads for sensitive skin
sanitary pads (= that a woman uses during her period )
—see also shoulder pad
OF PAPER
2.
a number of pieces of paper for writing or drawing on, that are fastened together at one edge :
a sketch / writing pad
—see also notepad , scratch pad
OF ANIMAL'S FOOT
3.
the soft part under the foot of a cat, dog, etc.
FOR CLEANING
4.
a small piece of rough material used for cleaning pans, surfaces, etc. :
a scouring pad
FOR SPACECRAFT / HELICOPTER
5.
a flat surface where a spacecraft or a helicopter takes off and lands
—see also helipad , launch pad
FOR PROTECTION
6.
[ usually pl. ] a piece of thick material that you wear in some sports, for example football and cricket , to protect your legs, elbows, etc.
—picture at hockey
OF WATER PLANTS
7.
the large flat leaf of some water plants, especially the water lily :
floating lily pads
FLAT / APARTMENT
8.
[ usually sing. ] ( old-fashioned , informal ) the place where sb lives, especially a flat / apartment
—see also ink-pad , keypad
■ verb
( -dd- )
ADD SOFT MATERIAL
1.
[ vn ] [ often passive ] pad sth (with sth) to put a layer of soft material in or on sth in order to protect it, make it thicker or change its shape :
All the sharp corners were padded with foam.
a padded jacket
a padded envelope (= for sending delicate objects)
WALK QUIETLY
2.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to walk with quiet steps :
She padded across the room to the window.
BILLS
3.
[ vn ] ( NAmE ) to dishonestly add items to bills to obtain more money :
to pad bills / expense accounts
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- pad sth out
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun and verb sense 1 verb sense 3 mid 16th cent. (in the sense bundle of straw to lie on ): the senses may not be of common origin; the meaning underpart of an animal's foot is perhaps related to Low German pad sole of the foot; the history remains obscure.
verb sense 2 mid 16th cent.: from Low German padden to tread, go along a path, partly imitative.