wad

Everyday

1. A wad is a thick soft lump or roll of material, such as cotton wool, paper or chewing gum. tree →
2. A wad of money or paper is a thick bundle of banknotes or sheets. tree →
3. (verb) To wad something means to press it into a soft lump: «He wadded up the paper.» tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life: a wad of tissues, a wad of gum under a desk, a wad of cash in a film robbery. In stories a «wad of notes» tells the reader someone is rich or is paying a bribe. Phrases: a wad of cash, a wad of paper, wad up, a wad of gum.

Examples

• The nurse pressed a wad of cotton wool on my cut. tree →
• Someone left a wad of gum under the desk. tree →
• The robber pulled out a thick wad of banknotes. tree →
• He wadded up the paper and threw it in the bin. tree →
• She had a wad of homework sheets to mark. tree →
• Stuff a wad of newspaper in your wet shoes to dry them. tree →

Note

Countable: a wad, wads. Verb past: wadded, wadding (double d). «Wadding» is also soft padding material. Do not confuse with «wade» (walk through water).