touch pad

noun

|Updated on: 11 Jun 2018

Definition of touch pad

: a keypad for an electronic device (such as a microwave oven) that consists of a flat surface divided into several differently marked areas which are touched to choose options

See touch pad defined for English-language learners

See touch pad defined for kids

Examples of touch pad in a Sentence

Press the start button on the touch pad.

Recent Examples of touch pad from the Web

The 10-inch touch screen is clear and without all the confusing submenus of German luxury, but Cadillac made a misstep by using a touch pad in the center console to control the screen.

— robert duffer, chicagotribune.com, "Plug-in Cadillacs evolve with CT6 sedan," 27 Feb. 2018
The survey was conducted by live phone call and by automated phone calls using a touch pad response.

— mike cason, AL.com, "Survey says Alabama GOP attorney general race tight; most undecided," 3 May 2018
Even things as elementary as turning on the heated or ventilated front seats requires the touch pad.

— mark phelan, Detroit Free Press, "Review: 2018 LS 500 is a beauty -- with beastly infotainment controls," 11 Apr. 2018
The power liftgate has a programmable height setting and can be opened one of three ways; a button on the key fob, a button inside the vehicle, or a touch pad on the lower edge of the liftgate.

— emma jayne williams, star-telegram, "Chevrolet’s Traverse big crossover gets a complete makeover for 2018," 30 Sep. 2017
The driver can use a touch pad that recognizes handwriting to input telephone numbers, addresses and other commands.

— tom krisher, The Seattle Times, "Big sellers like Toyota Camry, Ram getting updates in 2018," 5 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'touch pad.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of touch pad

1974

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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TOUCH PAD Defined for English Language Learners

touch pad

noun

Definition of touch pad for English Language Learners

: a flat surface on an electronic device (such as a microwave oven) that is divided into several differently marked areas which you can touch to choose options

TOUCH PAD Defined for Kids

touch pad

noun

Definition of touch pad for Students

: a flat surface on an electronic device (as a microwave oven) divided into several differently marked areas that are touched to make choices in controlling the device