tad

¹

[ tad ]

noun

, Informal.

1. a small child, especially a boy.
2. a very small amount or degree; bit:

   Please shift your chair a tad to the right. The frosting could use a tad more vanilla.

Tad

²

[ tad ]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Thaddeus or Theodore.

tad

/ tæd /

noun

1. a small boy; lad
2. a small bit or piece
3. a tad
   a tad a little; rather

   she may be a tad short but she got a top modelling job

Word History and Origins

Origin of tad¹

1875–80, Americanism, tad fordef 1; 1935–40, Americanism, tad fordef 2; perhaps shortening of tadpole

Word History and Origins

Origin of tad¹

C20: short for tadpole

Example Sentences

For each grasp, they shifted either the object or grabber just a tad.

From Science News For Students

It takes us out of ourselves, just for a bit, and returns us with—hopefully—a tad more perspective and peace.

From Outside Online

It may be an impossible job but a good biopic — especially at this luxurious length — should leave you with a tad more insight.

From Washington Blade

Although the experimental sauce didn’t go down particularly well with Venezuelan customers, some of whom told Araujo it was a tad too sweet, it was an instant hit among most other diners like myself.

From Eater

Joe Sutter is 93 now, silver-haired and moving a tad more slowly than he would like, but still pugnacious and sharp of tongue.

From The Daily Beast

Onscreen, Teller is a bit like a young Vince Vaughn—gregarious, charming, and a tad suspicious.

From The Daily Beast

Even so, I feel a tad guilty to be depriving him of the opportunity.

From The Daily Beast

When a 16-year-old takes on that wide-eyed, touched-for-the-very-first-time role, it all comes off as a tad more…juvenile.

From The Daily Beast

Because we know she was once a tad more regular, and she feels like an old friend, and we watched her become who she is today.

From The Daily Beast

This reasoning displeased the dwarfs, and one of them named Tad denounced it with much indignation.

From Project Gutenberg

Me and his daddy was--was together when he died; and you used to sit on Wash's knee when you was a little tad.

From Project Gutenberg

He looked down the stairs and saw Tom and Tad Sobber near a landing, having a wordy quarrel.

From Project Gutenberg

More than this, he had caught Tad Sobber in a falsehood only the day before.

From Project Gutenberg

As they looked into the place they saw Tad Sobber reach over the counter and catch the girl clerk by her curls.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• babe
• chick
• child
• kid
• toddler
• youngster