wad
/wɒd/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɑd] /wɑːd/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɑd] /ˈwäd How to pronounce wad (audio)/ (ame, mw)
wad — noun
- wadsingular
- wadsplural
1. A collection of flat items, such as paper money or documents, that have been pre
A collection of flat items, such as paper money or documents, that have been pressed or folded together into a tight bundle.
Trang pulled a thick wad of hundred-dollar bills from her jacket pocket.
a wad of [banknotes] — common collocation
The secretary handed me a wad of papers held together by a single paperclip.
Haruto found a wad of old love letters tucked inside a shoebox in the attic.
Mia counted out three wads of cash, each wrapped in a thick rubber band.
The janitor swept up a wad of crumpled flyers from the hallway floor.
文法句型
a wad of [something]
用法筆記
Frequently used with concrete nouns like 'cash', 'bills', 'papers'. The image is always of something flat that has been stacked or rolled.
常見錯誤
2. A lump of soft, pliable material, such as cotton, putty, or cloth, used to fill
A lump of soft, pliable material, such as cotton, putty, or cloth, used to fill a space, block an opening, or provide padding.
The plumber pressed a wad of putty into the gap around the new pipe.
a wad of [soft material] — used to fill a gap
Mauricio stuffed a wad of cotton into the bottle opening to stop spills.
Noa pushed a wad of damp cloth against the window crack to block the draft.
Zola tore off a wad of tissue and wedged it under the wobbly table leg.
The jacket had a wad of thick padding sewn into each shoulder for extra warmth.
文法句型
a wad of [soft material]
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (COMPRESSED MASS), the items here are soft and flexible, and the purpose is functional — stopping a flow, cushioning, or insulating.
3. A substantial sum of money, especially banknotes carried or spent at one time.
A substantial sum of money, especially banknotes carried or spent at one time.
Gita inherited a wad of money from her grandfather and started a bakery.
a wad of money — informal, large sum
The gambler lost an entire wad of cash in a single poker game that night.
Inês saved a wad of money over five years for a South America trip.
Asher earned a wad of commission after closing the biggest deal of the year.
The charity received a wad of donations after the news report aired on local television.
- bundle (of cash)
More literal; refers to physical banknotes tied together
- pile
Implies a heap of money, not necessarily folded or rolled
文法句型
a wad of [money/cash]
用法筆記
Almost always refers to physical cash or a large amount of money received at once. Less common for money that is spread over time.
常見錯誤
4. A small, compressed portion of a substance, such as chewing gum or tobacco, that
A small, compressed portion of a substance, such as chewing gum or tobacco, that a person puts in the mouth to chew.
Mert tucked a wad of chewing gum into his cheek before the job interview.
a wad of gum — small chewable mass
Omar unwrapped a fresh wad of cinnamon gum and chewed it at his desk.
unwrapped + began to chew — explicit chewing action
Liang popped a wad of bubble gum into his mouth and started chewing noisily.
Marco pulled a wad of chewing tobacco from the tin for his friend.
Grandma kept a spare wad of mint gum in her purse for long drives.
文法句型
a wad of gum/tobacco
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (SOFT PLUG) — here the material is meant for oral use, not for blocking or padding.
wad — verb
- wadpresent simple I / you / we / they
- wads3rd person singular
- wadding-ing form
- waddedpast simple
1. To crush or squeeze soft material, such as paper or cloth, into a tight, rounded
To crush or squeeze soft material, such as paper or cloth, into a tight, rounded lump, often carelessly or in anger.
Trang wadded the receipt and tossed it into the kitchen bin.
wad + direct object — simplest pattern
The child wadded the drawing into a tight ball and threw it across the room.
Haruto wadded up the damp towel and hung it over the radiator to dry.
Mia nervously wadded the corner of her napkin between her fingers during the meeting.
Inês wadded the letter angrily and threw it into the fireplace.
文法句型
wad + object
wad + object + up
wad + object + into + noun
用法筆記
Often implies a casual or impatient action — you wad something when you are not being careful with it. Compare 'fold' (neat) vs 'wad' (messy).
常見錯誤
2. To pack a space or container tightly with soft material, often to fill a gap, pr
To pack a space or container tightly with soft material, often to fill a gap, protect fragile items, or absorb moisture.
Zola wadded the gap under the door with a blanket to block the cold air.
wad [space] with [material] — fill a gap
The movers wadded newspapers into every box to protect the glass dishes.
Asher wadded his dirty socks into the bottom of his gym bag.
Gita wadded tissue paper around the ceramic bowl before packing it in the suitcase.
The nurse wadded gauze into the wound to stop the bleeding.
文法句型
wad + object + with [material]
wad + material + into [space]
用法筆記
The purpose is functional — filling, padding, or blocking — unlike sense 1 (PRESS TOGETHER), where the action is often careless or emotional.