pad

views updated Jun 08 2018

pad1 / pad/ • n. 1. a thick piece of soft material used to reduce friction or jarring, enlarge or change the shape of something, or hold or absorb liquid: sterile gauze pads. ∎ short for ink pad. ∎  the fleshy underpart of an animal's foot or of a human finger. ∎  a protective guard worn by a sports player to protect a part of the body from blows.2. a number of sheets of blank paper fastened together at one edge, used for writing or drawing on.3. a flat-topped structure or area used for helicopter takeoff and landing or for rocket launching. ∎  Electr. 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.4. inf. a person's home: the police raided my pad.5. short for lily pad.• v. (pad·ded, pad·ding) [tr.] [often as adj.] (padded) fill or cover (something) with a soft material in order to give it a particular shape, protect it or its contents, or make it more comfortable: a padded envelope. ∎  add false items to (an expense report or bill) in order to receive unjustified payment: faked repairs and padded expenses for government work reaped billions of dollars for the Mafia.pad2 • v. (pad·ded, pad·ding) [intr.] walk with steady steps making a soft dull sound: she padded along the corridor. ∎  [tr.] travel along (a road or route) on foot: he was padding the streets.• n. [in sing.] the soft dull sound of steady steps: he heard the pad of feet.

pad

views updated May 29 2018

pad.
1. Block (also called a template or padstone) built into a wall or fixed to the top of a pier on which a beam or truss rests.

2. Kneeler at the lowest point of a gable at the eaves to hold the cope in place and stop it sliding off, also called knee-stone or skew.

3. Short timber across the top of a wall to support a wall-plate or the foot of a common rafter.

4. Any large block carrying a load.

pad

views updated May 18 2018

pad1 (orig. sl., now dial.) path, road XVI; road-horse, nag; highwayman, FOOTPAD XVII. — LG., Du. pad PATH.
Hence, or — LG. padden, pad vb.1 tread, tramp. XVI.

PAD

views updated May 14 2018

PAD Acronym for packet assembler/disassembler. A translating computer that provides access for asynchronous character-at-a-time terminals to a synchronous packet switching network.

pad

views updated May 23 2018

pad2 †bundle of straw to lie on; soft stuffed saddle XVI; small cushion XVII; hairy foot or paw XVII; sheets of paper forming a block XIX. of obscure orig.; cf. Flem. †pad, patte, LG. pad sole of the foot.
Hence pad vb.2 stuff, fill out. XIX.

pad

views updated May 23 2018

pad3 dull sound of steps on the ground. XVI. mainly imit., but cf. PAD vb.1

Pad

views updated May 23 2018

Pad

a bunch or package; a mass of anything soft, e.g., a cushion.

Examples : pad of forms, 1876; of mackerel (measure of sixty mackerel); of straw, 1554; of wool; of writing paper, 1865; of yarn.

pad

views updated Jun 11 2018

pad (pad) n. cotton-wool, foam rubber, or other material used to protect a part of the body from friction, bruising, or other unwanted contact.

PaD

views updated May 29 2018

PAD

views updated May 29 2018

PAD (pæd) Computing packet assembler/disassembler
• (pæd) passive air defence
• payable after death