# pad

/ˈpæd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pad
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. soft cushion

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- The football player wore thick pads on his knees to prevent injuries.
- The surgeon applied a sterile gauze pad to the wound to manage the bleeding before suturing the incision.

### 2. paper for writing

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- She kept a pad of paper by the phone to write down messages.
- The architect filled an entire legal pad with rough diagrams before finalising the floor plan for the new library.

### 3. apartment or home

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

a person's home or apartment.

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

- You should come over to my pad tonight to watch the game.
- After years of living with roommates, he finally saved enough to rent a stylish bachelor pad in the city centre.

### 4. landing area

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- The helicopter landed safely on the pad on top of the hospital.
- The rocket stood poised on the launch pad as the countdown entered its final minute.

### 5. sustained musical sound

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The song starts with a soft synth pad before the drums begin.
- The producer layered a warm ambient pad beneath the vocal track to create a sense of depth and space.

### 6. to add extra material

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

- I padded the box with old newspapers so the glass wouldn't break.
- The tailor padded the shoulders of the jacket to give the wearer a more structured silhouette.

### 7. to add unnecessary information

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- He padded his essay with long quotes to reach the word count.
- The journalist was accused of padding the article with speculative details because he lacked enough factual evidence for a full feature.

### 8. to walk quietly

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

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

For teachers: to walk with a muffled, steady, or stealthy gait.

- The cat padded across the wooden floor without making a sound.
- She padded down the hallway in her socks, careful not to wake the sleeping children.

## Examples

- Welcome to my new pad.
- He's looking for a new pad to rent downtown, somewhere close to his office.
- After years of sharing cramped student housing, securing his own bachelor pad felt like the ultimate symbol of independence and professional arrival.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.