Pads Word Meaning

mid 16th century (in the sense ‘bundle of straw to lie on’): the senses may not be of common origin; the meaning ‘underpart of an animal's foot’ is perhaps related to Low German pad ‘sole of the foot’; the history remains obscure

a thick piece of soft material, typically used to protect or shape something, or to absorb liquid

thick piece of soft material

• a pad of cotton wool

the fleshy underpart of an animal's foot or of a human finger

fleshy underpart of animal's foot

• a dog's pads will bleed profusely if cut

a number of sheets of blank paper fastened together at one edge, used for writing or drawing

sheets of paper fastened together

• she sketched something on a big white pad

a flat-topped structure or area used for helicopter take-off and landing or for rocket-launching

structure for helicopter take-off etc.

• an office building with a helicopter pad

a person's home

person's home

• he crashed at my pad when he was in town

a flat area on a track of a printed circuit or on the edge of an integrated circuit to which wires or component leads can be attached to make an electrical connection.

area on track of printed circuit

fill or cover (something) with soft material in order to protect it or its contents, make it more comfortable, or give it a particular shape

fill or cover with pad

• the boxing gloves are padded with impact-resistant foam rubber
• wrap dishes and glassware individually, and pad the box with paper or bubble wrap

lengthen a speech, piece of writing, etc. with unnecessary material

lengthen with unnecessary material

• don't pad out your answer to make it seem impressive
• the short review is padded with irrelevant blather about ‘Monty Python’

add false items to (an expenses claim or bill) in order to receive unjustified payment

add false items to expenses claim

• the indictment alleges that he padded expenses and claimed wages for work he didn't do

put on protective pads in order to play a sport, especially cricket

put on protective pads

• at the age of 90, he still pads up ready to bat