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 little; rather

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tad¹

1875–80, tad for def. 1; 1935–40, tad for def. 2; perhaps shortening of tadpole

Word History and Origins

Origin of tad¹

C20: short for _tadpole

Example Sentences

But CBS is already full of people who think they know what they’re doing, who believe they represent hallowed tradition, the so-called Tiffany network, against which the Free Press must seem a tad insubstantial.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Freed to make his own movies, he still comes across a tad professorial.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

If you’re eager to mark the holidays this year with a Danish flair but Copenhagen seems a tad too far away, you might find the answer in Solvang.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The allegory is a tad thick: Humanity rots inside the gates, dignity stands tall outside.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And am I the only one who finds Amélie just a tad creepy?

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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