padded
UK: ˈpædɪd | US: ˈpædɪd
adj. filled or covered with soft material for comfort or protection
adj. (of language or style) exaggerated or artificially elaborate
vt. past tense and past participle of "pad" (to add soft material to something)
The word "padded" derives from the verb "pad," which originally meant "to stuff or cushion" (from Middle Dutch "paden," meaning "to walk softly"). The suffix "-ed" marks it as a past participle, turning it into an adjective describing something that has been filled or covered with soft material. Over time, it also gained a figurative sense for exaggerated language, likening it to "fluff" added to speech or writing.
The padded chair provided extra comfort during the long meeting.
She wore padded gloves to protect her hands while boxing.
His essay was criticized for its padded descriptions and lack of substance.
The walls were padded to reduce noise in the recording studio.
The jacket had padded shoulders for a more structured look.