[count] 1 a : an object that is thin, flat, and usually soft
▪ He sits with a foam pad behind him to help support his lower back. ▪ The doctor put a gauze pad over the wound. ▪ She lay in bed with a heating pad. [=an electric mat that heats up and is held against the body to reduce pain] ▪ a mattress pad [=a covering that goes under a sheet on a bed to protect the mattress] ▪ She had trouble finding a suit jacket without shoulder pads. [=small pads used to shape the shoulders of a shirt, dress, or jacket] ▪ You need to replace your car's brake pads. [=the part of the brakes that are pressed on the wheel when you stop or slow down the car] — see also ink pad
b sports : a covering for a specific part of the body that is worn to protect that part from injury — usually plural ▪ The football players wore their helmets and shoulder and hip pads to practice today. ▪ She wears elbow and knee pads when she goes skating.
c : sanitary napkin
d : a usually rough piece of material used in cleaning
▪ a scouring pad 2 : a set of paper sheets for writing or drawing that are glued or fastened at one edge
▪ They keep a pad and pencil by the phone. ▪ a sketch pad [=a notebook or pad of blank paper for drawing] — see also notepad, scratch pad 3 : the soft part on the bottom of the foot of a dog, cat, etc. 4 informal + old-fashioned or humorous : the place where someone lives — usually singular ▪ She lent me the keys to her pad while she was away. ▪ He held many wild parties in his bachelor pad. 5 : a flat area on the ground where helicopters can take off or land
▪ The town has no airport but there is a landing pad near the hospital. — see also launchpad 6 : lily pad