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Glite Dictionary
mattress pad

mattress pad

1 2.6
A thin cover that goes on top of a mattress to add comfort and protect it
  • noun
  • /ˈmætrəs pæd/
translation icon : protector de colchón
  • He checked the mattress, box spring, mattress pad, bolsters, bed frame, sheets, blankets, pillowcases, wardrobe, everything.
  • foam mattress pad
  • mattress pad and comforters
  • sheets and mattress pad

Examples

  • At night I couldn't wait to get into my warm bed with the electric mattress pad.

    Blog text (7)

  • I was thrilled to see that Thai finally added mattress pads, as they didn't previously offer them.

    Blog text (28)

  • "Well, somebody must have an extra mattress pad or something.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • "She rocks back and forth quickly on their bed, which she has stripped to the mattress pad."

    Fiction book (1990)

  • This is the mattress pad and the last box we have I think is the duvet.

  • And she's sleeping a whole lot better now with that foam mattress pad you bought her.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • And do make sure that you protect the mattresses with a leak-proof mattress pad.

    Blog text (25)

  • The receiver consists of a thin coil that is placed under a sheet or mattress pad and a monitor that stores the temperature data and displays it on a screen.

    Academic text (1994)

  • Liam's door was open, his bed stripped, his neatly repacked suitcase open on the mattress pad.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • You should always use a mattress pad to protect your mattress from spills and stains.

Synonyms

pad
vsmattress pad
118 1.4

A soft piece of material used to protect things or hold liquid

is thin and made to sit on a sleeping surface for extra comfort
mattress cover
vsmattress pad
1 1.3

A removable cloth or plastic layer that protects a mattress from dirt and spills

is thinner and focuses on added comfort rather than full protection

How Comfortable

featherbed
2 5.3
mattress pad
1 2.6
sleeping bag
67 1.0

Surface Forms

mattress pad singular
mattress pads plural

Morphology

mattress + pad

The meaning 'a thin protective covering placed on top of a mattress' is directly and compositionally derived from 'mattress' (sleeping pad for a bed) + 'pad' (a soft/protective layer). This noun–noun compound follows a transparent, cross-linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent words will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

The name mattress pad comes from the simple idea of a soft pad put on top of a mattress as an extra layer. So it means a thin cover that 'protects' the mattress and makes it more comfortable.