Launching ___ (3 letters)

{ Answer }

PAD

{ Related Clues }

Buffer
Cushion
Digs
Enlarge
Highwayman
Muffle
Notebook
Pillion
Tablet
Bachelor's digs
Crash site
Crash site?
Expand unnecessarily
Falsify, in a way
Frog's perch
Hippie's hangout
Hippie's home
Holder of notes
Inflate, as a bill
Inflate, as expenses
Launch platform
Pencil partner
Seat cover
Shock absorber
Steno's item
Tramp along
Type of saddle
Walk softly
Walk; tramp
Waterlily's leaf
Writer's block?
Writing tablet
Football player's wear
Homeless hippie's need
Inflate an expense account
Layer on a football player
Rubber-stamp accessory
A mouse moves over it

{ Tags }

crash, cushion, digs, expand, expenses, football, hangout, hippies, home, inflate, item, launching, mouse, need, pad, place, site, stenos, tablet, walk, way

{ Notes }

The answer PAD is seen frequently, appearing about once every 130 puzzles.

{ Definition }

PAD as a noun:

1. (pad, pad of paper, tablet) = a number of sheets of paper fastened together along one edge

2. the large floating leaf of an aquatic plant (as the water lily)

3. (pad, inkpad, inking pad, stamp pad) = a block of absorbent material saturated with ink; used to transfer ink evenly to a rubber stamp

4. a usually thin flat mass of padding

5. (launching pad, launchpad, launch pad, launch area, pad) = a platform from which rockets or space craft are launched

6. (diggings, digs, domiciliation, lodgings, pad) = temporary living quarters

7. the foot or fleshy cushion-like underside of the toes of an animal

PAD as a verb:

1. (embroider, pad, lard, embellish, aggrandize, aggrandise, blow up, dramatize, dramatise) = add details to

2. (slog, footslog, plod, trudge, pad, tramp) = walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud; "Mules plodded in a circle around a grindstone"

3. (pad, fill out) = line or stuff with soft material; "pad a bra"

4. (pad, bolster) = add padding to; "pad the seat of the chair"