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pad

pad

107 7.2
A platform where rockets are launched into space
  • noun
  • /pæd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : plataforma de lanzamiento
  • Launch pad go.
  • launch pad
  • 39B pad

Well, because faith is not something to begin with as a launching pad and then leave behind.

Examples

  • These are the same launch pads we flew from an Apollo.

  • The spacecraft was positioned on the pad before its historic launch.

  • But we can control every launch pad in the world from here.

  • The pad is a go.

  • All personnel report to emergency-escape vehicle launch pad.

  • But even reaching the launch pad was a triumph of cost-driven engineering.

    Academic text (2011)
  • And so Voyager II is now a part of history... rocketing into space from its launch pad here at Cape Kennedy... on this historic date, August 20, 1977.

  • NASA engineers monitored the countdown from control rooms near the launch pad.

  • As the final checks were completed, the rocket stood tall on the launch pad, ready for the mission.

Synonyms

launch pad
vspad
  • Specialized
9 3.5

A platform where rockets or spacecraft are launched into space

is the more general single-word name for the same platform
launching pad
vspad
  • Specialized
4 4.4

A strong platform that rockets or spacecraft use to start their flight

is the simpler platform idea rather than a built structure
launchpad
vspad
  • Specialized
4 4.8

A platform where rockets begin their flight into space

specifies travel only into space rather than into air or space
launch area
vspad
  • Specialized
1 4.0

A place where rockets or spaceships start their flight

refers narrowly to the platform itself not the wider site around it

Compounds

12 2.9

A hard rounded piece worn over the shoulder to protect from hits in sports like football or hockey

launch pad
  • Specialized
9 3.5

A platform where rockets or spacecraft are launched into space

brake pad
  • Specialized
7 3.0

A flat piece in a car that presses the brake disc to slow or stop a wheel

6 1.6

A flat round leaf that floats on a pond or lake

6 2.7

A soft pad with electric heat you put on the body for warmth or pain relief

5 1.0

A set of paper sheets joined at one edge for writing or drawing

5 1.3

A soft pad worn over the knee to protect it during work or sport

launching pad
  • Specialized
4 4.4

A strong platform that rockets or spacecraft use to start their flight

3 2.7

A book of blank paper for drawing or making quick pictures

1 3.7

A small metal pad that you use to scrub hard stains from pots, pans, and kitchen surfaces

1 2.1

A protective pad worn over the elbow to prevent injury during sports

1 3.7

A thing that helps someone start a job or project

1 2.6

A thin cover that goes on top of a mattress to add comfort and protect it

1 2.0

A small stack of paper for writing short notes to leave for others

1 3.0

A pad worn on the hip to protect from hits and falls

1 3.8

A thin material put under a rug to stop it sliding, protect the floor, and make it softer

pressure pad
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A device that senses weight when someone steps on it and makes something happen

1 3.1

A small rough scrubber used to clean pots and pans to remove stuck food

1 2.3

A small pad of blank paper for quick notes and sketches

1 2.8

A soft cover worn over the thigh to protect it in sports like football or cricket

sketch pad
  • Specialized
1 3.2

A digital drawing area on a tablet or computer for drawing by hand

1 3.0

A small rough pad with soap used to scrub pans and dishes

A small cleaning tool of thin metal threads used to remove dirt or smooth surfaces

1 1.1

A pad of paper for making notes or short messages

3.2

A thick pad worn by a hockey goalkeeper to protect the body from pucks

2.9

A layer of material under a carpet that makes it softer, warmer, and quieter

A small flat piece of cloth or sponge that you use to rub dirt off surfaces like a stove

3.0

A protective pad worn on the arm to stop injuries in sports like football or hockey

hot pad
  • US
3.2

An electric pad that warms parts of your body to ease pain

hot pad
  • US
1.5

A small pad you put under a hot dish to protect a table or countertop

A small block soaked with ink that you press a rubber stamp onto

pussy pad
  • Offensive
9.9

A soft piece of material that absorbs blood during a period

2.5

A small pad soaked with ink that you press a rubber block on to mark paper

3.0

A soft piece of material worn on the wrist to protect it during sports

3.3

A soft cushion placed in front of a keyboard to support the wrists while typing

An electronic device or app that lets you put words and pictures on the screen and save them

Surface Forms

pad singular
pads plural

Etymology

Pad for a launch place comes from an old idea of a flat, prepared 'pad' or area where you put something important before use, like a flat spot for a machine. So a launch pad is a special flat platform where a rocket sits and then takes off.