pad
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a soft piece of material used to protect something or make it more comfortable.
n.a mass of soft or absorbent material used for protection, comfort, or to relieve pressure.
Simple“The football player wore thick pads on his knees to prevent injuries.”
In context“The surgeon applied a sterile gauze pad to the wound to manage the bleeding before suturing the incision.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.a number of sheets of paper fastened together at the top.
n.a block of paper sheets glued together at one edge, intended for sketching or correspondence.
Simple“She kept a pad of paper by the phone to write down messages.”
In context“The architect filled an entire legal pad with rough diagrams before finalising the floor plan for the new library.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person's home or apartment.
n.a person's residence or living quarters, often implying a casual or bachelor lifestyle.
Simple“You should come over to my pad tonight to watch the game.”
In context“After years of living with roommates, he finally saved enough to rent a stylish bachelor pad in the city centre.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
n.a flat surface where a helicopter or rocket can land or take off.
n.a designated flat surface for the vertical takeoff or landing of aircraft or spacecraft.
Simple“The helicopter landed safely on the pad on top of the hospital.”
In context“The rocket stood poised on the launch pad as the countdown entered its final minute.”
Synonymshelipadplatform - 05 C1 Advanced
n.a long, steady background sound in a piece of music.
n.a sustained, often atmospheric synthesizer or string sound used to fill the background of a musical arrangement.
Simple“The song starts with a soft synth pad before the drums begin.”
In context“The producer layered a warm ambient pad beneath the vocal track to create a sense of depth and space.”
Synonyms - 06 B1 Intermediate
v.to put soft material into something to make it thicker or more comfortable.
v.to fill or cover something with soft material for protection or to alter its shape.
Simple“I padded the box with old newspapers so the glass wouldn't break.”
In context“The tailor padded the shoulders of the jacket to give the wearer a more structured silhouette.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to make a story or report longer by adding extra, unimportant words.
v.to lengthen a document or speech by including redundant or irrelevant information.
Simple“He padded his essay with long quotes to reach the word count.”
In context“The journalist was accused of padding the article with speculative details because he lacked enough factual evidence for a full feature.”
- 08 C1 Advanced
v.to walk with quiet, soft steps, often without shoes.
v.to walk with a muffled, steady, or stealthy gait.
Simple“The cat padded across the wooden floor without making a sound.”
In context“She padded down the hallway in her socks, careful not to wake the sleeping children.”
“The paper says several Kremlin bases have newly built launch pads for its advance long-range drones, but there is no suggestion that Russia is planning an attack on Nato.”
“I think we will increasingly see that." With eyes around the globe focused on North America this summer, the World Cup was a great launch pad for many players' personal brands.”