a number of sheets of paper fastened together along one edge
"I need to find my notebook pad before I start taking notes for the meeting."
the large floating leaf of an aquatic plant (as the water lily)
"The dragonfly landed gently on the broad green pad of a water lily that floated near the shore."
a block of absorbent material saturated with ink; used to transfer ink evenly to a rubber stamp
"She kept her personal seal on a thick pad so every impression came out crisp and even."
a flat mass of soft material used for protection, stuffing, or comfort
"She added extra padding to her backpack to protect her electronics from bumps during the hike."
a platform from which rockets or space craft are launched
"The engineers inspected every bolt on the launch pad before allowing the rocket to roll out for its final test flight."
temporary living quarters
"After their apartment flooded, they spent two weeks staying at a motel pad while waiting for repairs to finish."
the fleshy cushion-like underside of an animal's foot or of a human's finger
"The dog winced when it stepped on the sharp glass, but its thick paw pads helped protect it from serious injury."
A flattened mass of anything soft, to sit or lie on.
"I could hear him padding down the hallway before he quietly slipped into his room."
A toad.
A footpath, particularly one unformed or unmaintained; a road or track. See footpad.
A type of wickerwork basket, especially as used as a measure of fish or other goods.
The sound of soft footsteps, or a similar noise made by an animal etc.
In plain English: A pad is a flat surface used for writing on, drawing on, or resting things on.
"The cat curled up on the soft padding under the sofa."
Usage: As a noun, pad refers to the soft thud or muffled sound produced by heavy footsteps or an animal moving through grass or snow. Use this word when describing the specific auditory effect of such movement rather than the object itself.
add details to
"She decided to pad her resume by listing every minor task she had completed during her tenure."
To stuff.
"After hiking up the steep trail, we finally reached the valley floor and began to pad down the winding dirt path toward camp."
To travel along (a road, path etc.).
In plain English: To pad means to add extra material to something to make it softer, thicker, or more comfortable.
"The little baby likes to pad quietly across the floor in his socks."
Usage: Use "pad" to mean traveling quietly and softly, often with heavy steps or on silent feet, rather than simply moving quickly along a path. This usage implies a deliberate effort to make no noise while covering ground.
Indicating a soft flat sound, as of bare footsteps.
"The detective heard someone softly pad down the hallway while everyone else was sleeping."
The word pad originally referred to a bundle of straw used for lying down in 1554, though its deeper origins remain unknown. It may have come from Low German or West Flemish terms meaning "sole of the foot," which could ultimately trace back to an ancient root related to passing and paths.