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Glite Dictionary
📒 A drawing book 💻 A drawing app
sketch pad

sketch pad

3 2.7
A book of blank paper for drawing or making quick pictures
  • noun
  • /skɛtʃ pæd/
translation icon : bloc de dibujo
  • Clay turns to the sketch pad, which lies on the floor next to Whale.
  • sketch pad and a pencil
  • sketch pad and charcoal
  • spiral-bound sketch pad

and he's in a daze and he's got this sketch pad. And as he walks towards his friends,

Examples

  • Storey was sitting with his face somberly pointed down at the sketch pad in front of him.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Sarah flipped fast through her sketch pad: line drawings of her husband's bearded face, of the tomcat's fluid poses.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Then he takes out his sketch pad and begins to draw.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • "What are you drawing?" people asked, and they looked from her sketch pad to the walls and back again.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The next day, Joel brought his sketch pad and asked if he could bring his oils.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Amy sits in front of it, drawing on a sketch pad.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Sam heads away from the cabin, his drawing sketch pad under his arm, moving into the woods.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Peregrine had left his sketch pad on the table before the library fireplace.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • McLeod picked up the sketch pad and leafed through the drawings again.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • On the last day of summer, Keller brought a sketch pad with him to the stable.

Synonyms

pad
vssketch pad
88 1.0

A stack of paper sheets fastened at one edge for writing

is a book of blank pages meant mainly for sketches
sketchbook
vssketch pad
13 2.1

A book with blank pages for making quick drawings

has identical use but often a different name
pad of paper
vssketch pad
5 1.0

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

is specifically for drawing rather than general writing use
sketchpad
vssketch pad
1 2.8

A book of blank pages for drawing

is the exact same book of blank pages for sketches
scratch pad
vssketch pad
1 2.3

A small pad of blank paper for quick notes and sketches

is aimed at drawing work rather than brief notes or sums
sketch block
vssketch pad
  • UK
2.7

A book of blank paper for drawing quick pictures

is essentially the same item used for sketching
scribbling block
vssketch pad
4.9

A pad of paper for quick notes and sketches

is for careful or finished sketching rather than quick notes
scratchpad
vssketch pad
3.5

A small notebook for writing quick notes or doing math

is larger and intended for drawing rather than short notes

How Portable

sketch pad
3 2.7
sketchbook
13 2.1
portfolio
9 4.5

Surface Forms

sketch pad singular
sketch pads plural

Morphology

sketch + pad

The compound 'sketch pad' is directly and transparently derived from 'sketch' (a quick drawing) + 'pad' (a stack/surface for writing or drawing), meaning a surface or book used for sketching. Even the digital extension (a virtual sketch pad) is an obvious extension of the physical object, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The noun sketch pad comes from the simple image of a small pad, a stack of blank pages, used for quick sketch drawings by artists. That's why it means 'a book of blank sheets of paper for making sketches'.