keypad

Everyday

A keypad is a small set of buttons with numbers and sometimes letters, used to type a code or number, like on a phone, a calculator, a microwave or a door lock. tree →

In the lessons

Everyday: you press a keypad to enter a PIN at a shop, unlock a door, use a lift, or dial a phone number. In maths, phone and calculator keypads have numbers in a grid but in different orders (phones have 1 2 3 at the top, calculators have 7 8 9 at the top). Safety: cover the keypad when you type a PIN so nobody can see; never share your code. Phrases: «number keypad», «press the keypad», «enter the code on the keypad».

Examples

• Type the code into the keypad to open the door. tree →
• Cover the keypad when you enter your PIN. tree →
• The microwave has a keypad for setting the time. tree →
• Press 1 on the keypad for help. tree →
• The calculator keypad has bigger buttons than the phone. tree →
• The school gate has a keypad lock. tree →
• My finger slipped on the keypad and I typed the wrong number. tree →

Note

One word. A keypad is small with mostly numbers; a keyboard is the big one with letters for typing on a computer. Phone keypads and calculator keypads put the numbers in opposite order.