Pronunciation

/pæd/

Definitions

Noun (n)

• A soft cushion or mat: A usually small, flat piece of material, often padded or quilted, used for comfort, protection, or support; e.g., “She placed a foam pad under her knees while exercising.”
• Writing or drawing surface: A thin, portable writing surface, often bound in a cover like a notebook; e.g., “He jotted down his ideas on a notepad.”
• Electronic device accessory: An external input device for computers, often used for writing or drawing with a stylus, also known as a graphics tablet pad; e.g., “The artist used a digital drawing pad to create her illustrations.”
• Bedding item: A smaller mattress or cushion used to supplement a larger bed, often for extra comfort or protection; e.g., “She added a feather bed pad to her mattress for a better night’s sleep.”
• Animal’s living area: A place where an animal rests or sleeps, such as a dog’s sleeping pad.

Verb (v)

• To furnish with a pad: To add a soft protective covering to something; e.g., “She decided to pad the edges of the coffee table to prevent injuries.”
• To write or draw on a pad: To record information or make sketches on a writing pad; e.g., “He spent hours padding out his notes for the upcoming exam.”
• To move lightly or quietly: To walk softly or stealthily, as if with padded feet; e.g., “The cat padded silently across the room.”
• To fill out unnecessarily: To add superfluous content or details to something, often to make it appear longer or more substantial; e.g., “Critics accused the author of padding the novel with unnecessary descriptions.”

Phrase

• On the pad: (informal) Refers to receiving bribes or being corruptly paid for services, especially among police officers or public officials.
• Pad one’s resume: To embellish or exaggerate one’s qualifications or experience on a resume.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “She put a non-slip pad under the rug to keep it from sliding around.”
• Verb: “She padded the sharp corners of the furniture with foam for the baby’s safety.”
• As ‘to pad’: “Before submitting his essay, he decided to pad it out with some additional research findings.”

Synonyms

• Cushion
• Mat
• Pillow
• Mattress topper
• Notepad
• Sketchpad (in the context of writing or drawing surface)
• Bribe (in the informal sense of “on the pad”)
• Embellish (in the context of adding unnecessary content)