1. n. & v.
--n.
1. a piece of soft material used to reduce friction or jarring, fill out hollows, hold or absorb liquid, etc.
2 a number of sheets of blank paper fastened together at one edge, for writing or drawing on.
3 ink-pad.
4 the fleshy underpart of an animal's foot or of a human finger.
5 a guard for the leg and ankle in sports.
6 a flat surface for helicopter take-off or rocket-launching.
7 colloq. a lodging, esp. a bedsitter or flat.
8 the floating leaf of a water lily.
--v.tr. (padded, padding)
1. provide with a pad or padding; stuff.
2 (foll. by out) lengthen or fill out (a book etc.) with unnecessary material.
Phrases and idioms:
padded cell a room with padded walls in a mental hospital.
Etymology: prob. of LG or Du. orig. 2. v. & n.
--v. (padded, padding)
1. intr. walk with a soft dull steady step.
2 a tr. tramp along (a road etc.) on foot. b intr. travel on foot.
--n. the sound of soft steady steps.
Etymology: LG padden tread, pad PATH