hot pad

IPA/ˈhɒt ˌpæd/
IPA/ˈhɑːt ˌpæd/

hot pad — noun

1. A small thick square of cloth that you put beneath hot pans or grip around hot h

1.nounB1
Definition

A small thick square of cloth that you put beneath hot pans or grip around hot handles, so that heat does not burn your hands or damage a surface.

Example

Uncle Ricardo grabbed a hot pad before lifting the cast-iron skillet off the stove.

collocation: grab a hot pad / lift [hot cookware]

The table got a burn mark because nobody set a hot pad under the dish.

use: put a hot pad under [hot dish] to protect a surface

Common collocations
  • thick hot pad
  • quilted hot pad
  • use a hot pad
  • set a hot pad under
  • grab a hot pad
  • hot pad drawer
  • kitchen hot pad
Synonyms
  • oven mitt

    A glove-shaped hot pad that covers the whole hand and wrist; more common in British English.

  • trivet

    A metal or ceramic stand placed under a hot dish, rather than a padded cloth; used mostly for table protection, not for handling cookware.

  • potholder

    A general term for any small thick pad used for holding hot cookware; often used interchangeably with 'hot pad' in American English.

Grammar Patterns

a + hot pad

hot pad + (for) + noun phrase

Usage Note

In British English the same object is usually called an 'oven glove' or 'oven mitt'. 'Hot pad' is the standard term in American English and often refers to a flat square or rectangle, whereas an oven mitt covers the hand like a glove.

Common Mistakes

She used a hot pad to clean the spilled soup.
She used a sponge to clean the spilled soup.
A hot pad protects against heat and is not meant for cleaning.

Word family

  • potholder
    nounB1
  • oven mitt
    nounB1
  • trivet
    nounB2
  • hot
    adjectiveA1
  • pad
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Hot pad', 'potholder', and 'oven mitt' all describe kitchen items that protect against heat, but their shapes and regional use differ. 'Hot pad' (most common in American English) is typically a flat square or rectangle of thick fabric, used under dishes and also to hold handles. 'Potholder' is a near-synonym in American English and can refer to the same flat pad, though some households use it for a smaller square meant only for hand protection. 'Oven mitt' is a glove-shaped cover that goes over the whole hand and up the wrist, giving better grip for heavy pots; it is the dominant term in British English. 'Trivet' is different: it is a hard stand (metal, ceramic, or wood) placed on a table under a hot dish, not used for handling cookware. Example: 'She used a quilted hot pad to carry the casserole dish to the table but set it on a ceramic trivet to protect the tabletop.'

hot pad ↗oven mittpotholdertrivet ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • stack of hot pads
  • set of hot pads
  • quilted hot pad

Prepositions

  • under (a dish / a pot)
  • on (the table / the counter)
  • in (the drawer)

Etymology

Old EnglishDutch / Low GermanEnglish

'Hot pad' is a compound noun formed in the mid-20th century from the adjective 'hot' (Old English 'hat') and the noun 'pad' (of uncertain origin, probably from Dutch or Low German 'pad' meaning a cushion or soft sole). The term arose alongside the modern kitchen as a practical household item. 'Potholder' is attested earlier, but 'hot pad' became common in American English during the 1950s.