carpet
Americannoun
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a heavy fabric, commonly of wool or nylon, for covering floors.
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a covering of this material.
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any relatively soft surface or covering like a carpet.
They walked on the carpet of grass.
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any of a number of airborne electronic devices for jamming radar.
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a system of such devices.
verb (used with object)
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to cover or furnish with or as with a carpet.
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Chiefly British. to reprimand.
idioms
noun
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a heavy fabric for covering floors
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( as modifier )
a carpet sale
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a covering like a carpet
a carpet of leaves
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informal
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before authority to be reproved for misconduct or error
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under consideration
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verb
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to cover with or as if with a carpet
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informal to reprimand
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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well-carpetedadjective
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carpetlikeadjective
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carpetlessadjective
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recarpetverb (used with object)
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uncarpetedadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have carpetedperfect
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has carpetedperfect 3rd person singular
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are carpetingprogressive
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have been carpetingperfect progressive
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is carpetingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am carpetingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been carpetingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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carpetingparticiple
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carpetssingular 3rd person
Past
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had carpetedperfect
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had been carpetingperfect progressive
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was carpetingprogressive singular
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carpetedparticiple
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were carpetingprogressive plural
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carpetedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of carpet
1300–50; Middle English carpete cloth covering for a table, floor, bed, etc. < Middle French carpite or Medieval Latin carpīta < Italian carpita woolen bedspread < Vulgar Latin *carpīta, past participle of carpīre, for Latin carpere to pluck, card (wool)
Explanation
A carpet is a thick, woven floor covering. Most carpets cover the whole floor in a room, as opposed to a rug, which only covers a small section. Carpets are made from polyester fibers, or wool, or nylon — most often, these soft materials are loops or strings that form the carpet's "pile," and are attached to a solid backing. A carpet can be very densely woven and flat, or it can be tufted and thick. To carpet means to cover something as if with a carpet: "Then the snow carpets the ground, and winter is here."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Erich's first book, “Red Carpet: Hollywood, China, and the Global Battle for Cultural Supremacy,” detailed the growing influence of China on the American entertainment industry.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026
Carpet weavers say they earn about $27 for each square metre, which usually takes about a month to produce.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2025
The official live preshow, “The Oscars Red Carpet Show” — hosted by Julianne Hough and Jesse Palmer — will kick off at 3:30 p.m. on ABC and Hulu.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2025
ABC will air its “Countdown to Oscars: On the Red Carpet Live!” beginning at 1 p.m.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 10, 2024
When we exited the highway, you can bet I pretended not to see the old Red Carpet Inn, scene of my latest, greatest mistake.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
