Meaning & use
scratchpad
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Meanings
nouncountable
A pad of paper used for quick notes, sums or sketches that you do not intend to keep.
Grammar: Takes an or the: he scribbled it on a scratchpad.
Patterns
- on a scratchpad
- a scratchpad of something
She did the sums on a scratchpad before entering the answer.
He kept a scratchpad beside the phone for messages.
I drew a rough map on my scratchpad.
nouncountablecomputing
A temporary area in a computer program or memory where information is kept while working, often for notes or short-term data.
Grammar: Often used in computing contexts without an article: use the scratchpad.
Patterns
- on a scratchpad
- use the scratchpad
The editor has a scratchpad where you can paste text without saving it.
The program stores intermediate results in a scratchpad.
Use the scratchpad to test ideas before changing the main file.
Word forms
| plural | scratchpads |
|---|
Common combinations
- a digital scratchpad
- I use a digital scratchpad for to-do lists.
- jot on a scratchpad
- He jotted the address on a scratchpad.
- use a scratchpad
- Use a scratchpad to work out the calculation.
- a scratchpad memory
- The chip has a small scratchpad memory for fast data.
Synonyms and how they differ
- notepad
- A notepad is a general pad for notes you may keep, while a scratchpad suggests rough, throwaway writing.
- jotter
- Jotter is a British word for a small notebook, and it has no computing meaning.
- draft
- A draft is an early version of a piece of writing, whereas a scratchpad is just a place for rough work.
- workspace
- A workspace is a more general term for an area where work is done, especially on screen.
Word family
Commonly confused: scratchpad or notebook?
scratchpad vs notebook
A notebook is bound and usually kept, while a scratchpad is mainly for temporary notes.
Practice
I did not want to save the numbers, so I typed them into the ____ and closed it afterward.
Choose one answer.
A scratchpad is for temporary working notes. A database or archive stores things permanently, which is the opposite of the speaker's intent.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “scratchpad”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.