ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pad

n. · v.
US //ˈpæd// pad
  1. 1 soft cushion (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a soft piece of material used to protect something or make it more comfortable.

    a mass of soft or absorbent material used for protection, comfort, or to relieve pressure.

    Example

    The football player wore thick pads on his knees to prevent injuries.

    Example

    The surgeon applied a sterile gauze pad to the wound to manage the bleeding before suturing the incision.
  2. 2 paper for writing (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a number of sheets of paper fastened together at the top.

    a block of paper sheets glued together at one edge, intended for sketching or correspondence.

    Example

    She kept a pad of paper by the phone to write down messages.

    Example

    The architect filled an entire legal pad with rough diagrams before finalising the floor plan for the new library.
Show 6 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 apartment or home (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Slang

    a person's home or apartment.

    a person's residence or living quarters, often implying a casual or bachelor lifestyle.

    Example

    You should come over to my pad tonight to watch the game.

    Example

    After years of living with roommates, he finally saved enough to rent a stylish bachelor pad in the city centre.
  2. 4 landing area (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a flat surface where a helicopter or rocket can land or take off.

    a designated flat surface for the vertical takeoff or landing of aircraft or spacecraft.

    Example

    The helicopter landed safely on the pad on top of the hospital.

    Example

    The rocket stood poised on the launch pad as the countdown entered its final minute.
  3. 5 sustained musical sound (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Music

    a long, steady background sound in a piece of music.

    a sustained, often atmospheric synthesizer or string sound used to fill the background of a musical arrangement.

    Example

    The song starts with a soft synth pad before the drums begin.

    Example

    The producer layered a warm ambient pad beneath the vocal track to create a sense of depth and space.
  4. 6 to add extra material (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to put soft material into something to make it thicker or more comfortable.

    to fill or cover something with soft material for protection or to alter its shape.

    Example

    I padded the box with old newspapers so the glass wouldn't break.

    Example

    The tailor padded the shoulders of the jacket to give the wearer a more structured silhouette.
  5. 7 to add unnecessary information (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to make a story or report longer by adding extra, unimportant words.

    to lengthen a document or speech by including redundant or irrelevant information.

    Example

    He padded his essay with long quotes to reach the word count.

    Example

    The journalist was accused of padding the article with speculative details because he lacked enough factual evidence for a full feature.
  6. 8 to walk quietly (v.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    to walk with quiet, soft steps, often without shoes.

    to walk with a muffled, steady, or stealthy gait.

    Example

    The cat padded across the wooden floor without making a sound.

    Example

    She padded down the hallway in her socks, careful not to wake the sleeping children.
Word family
Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference