pad

1 of 2verb

/pæd/

Forms:pads,padding,padded,padded

to add padding or cushioning to enhance comfort, protect, or modify the shape of something

transitive

To protect the fragile items during shipping, they chose to pad the boxes with bubble wrap.
The cyclist padded the bike seat with a gel cover for a more comfortable ride.
The upholsterer decided to pad the dining chairs for a more comfortable seating experience.
In the dance studio, it's common to pad the floor with foam mats to prevent injuries.
To create a cozy atmosphere, the decorator suggested padding the headboard of the bed with fabric.

Synonyms:

to add extraneous content to artificially increase the length of material without adding significant substance

transitive

The student padded his essay with irrelevant anecdotes to meet the word count requirement.
The politician padded his speech to fill the allotted time.
The journalist padded the article with filler sentences to meet the newspaper's column length.
The contractor padded the project proposal with unnecessary features to inflate the budget.
The filmmaker padded the movie to extend its running time.

Synonyms:

to add extra material to something to increase its size, thickness, or volume

transitive

She padded the envelope with extra sheets of paper to prevent the contents from bending.
He padded the mattress with foam to make it more comfortable to sleep on.
She padded the gift box with tissue paper to cushion the delicate contents during shipping.
The runner padded his shoes with orthotic inserts to provide better arch support.

Synonyms:

to walk quietly, softly, or slowly, often with a gentle, muffled sound

The cat padded silently across the room, its pawsteps barely audible.
He padded down the hallway in his socks, careful not to wake anyone sleeping.
The detective padded through the dark alley, keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity.
The explorer padded through the dense jungle, listening for the calls of exotic birds.
The thief padded stealthily through the mansion, searching for valuable treasures.

Synonyms:

to cover or line parts of a boat with soft material to protect it or make it more comfortable

They padded the canoe's seats to make long trips more comfortable.
Before transporting the kayak, he padded the edges to prevent scratches.
She carefully padded the sides of the boat to protect it from bumps against the dock.
The rowing team padded the interior with foam to reduce noise and wear.
He padded the storage area to keep their gear from shifting during rough waters.