Skip to main content
gamepad

gamepad

12 3.3
A small handheld device with buttons and joysticks used to control video games on a console or computer
  • noun
  • /ˈɡeɪmˌpæd/
translation icon : mando
  • Let's start with the GamePad, since that's effectively the face of the Wii U.
  • gamepad to the console
  • Xbox gamepad
  • Wii U GamePad

Examples

  • Using the GamePad to control my TV and cable box is surreal.

    Blog text (11)
  • What I love is that developers are utilizing the second screen of the GamePad in completely different ways.

    Blog text (3)
  • Ron, when you press the "Home" button on the GamePad, you can access the Download Manager.

    Blog text (11)
  • Not a problem, Fils-Aime said, holding a GamePad in his hands.

    Blog text (10)
  • The coolest use of the GamePad, however, is in the environmental audio.

    Blog text (12)
  • You can also quickly create a new Mii by taking a photo with the GamePad.

    Blog text (10)
  • Multiplayer games, especially, can use the GamePad to create fun gameplay and scenarios.

    Blog text (11)
  • Looks like I can use the GamePad as a TV remote even when the Wii U console is off.

    Blog text (11)
  • Joe: Having someone create blocks on the GamePad in NSMBU makes for a chaotic experience.

    Blog text (11)
  • The new racing game is more enjoyable with a gamepad than with a keyboard.

Synonyms

Wii
vsgamepad
4.6

A wireless handheld controller for playing games on the Wii console

is a general handheld device with buttons and joysticks for various systems

How Advanced

microcontroller
  • Specialized
3 5.5
gamepad
12 3.3
controller
  • Specialized
74 3.8

Surface Forms

gamepad singular
gamepads plural

Morphology

gamepad = game + pad (transparent) = game + pad

The meaning is a straightforward compound: a 'pad' (small handheld device/surface) used for 'game(s)'; learners who know 'game' and 'pad' can infer the sense.

Etymology

Gamepad combines game ('play') and pad ('a small flat thing you press or hold'), the same pad you see in keypad or touchpad. So a gamepad is literally a hand-held 'pad' you use to play and control video games.