blanket

American  

[blang-kit] / ˈblæŋ kɪt /

noun

• blankets
  plural

1. a large, rectangular piece of soft fabric, often with bound edges, used especially for warmth as a bed covering.

2. a similar piece of fabric used as a covering for a horse, dog, etc.

3. the chief garment traditionally worn by some American Indians.

4. any extended covering or layer.

   a blanket of snow.

   Synonyms:

   coating, overlay, mantel, coat, cover

5. Printing.

   1. (in a press for offset printing) the rubber-covered cylinder to which an inked impression is transferred from the plate for transfer directly to the paper.

   2. (in a press for letterpress printing) the resilient covering on the cylinder against which the paper is pressed in printing.

6. a thick roll or strip of material for thermal insulation.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cover with or as with a blanket.

   wild flowers blanketing the hillside.

2. to obscure or obstruct; interfere with; overpower (usually followed byout ).

   An electrical storm blanketed out the radio program.

3. to toss (someone) in a blanket, as in fraternity hazing.

4. Nautical. (of a vessel) to take wind from the sails of (another vessel) by passing closely to windward.

adjective

1. covering or intended to cover a large group or class of things, conditions, situations, etc..

   a blanket proposal; a blanket indictment.

idioms

1. born on the wrong side of the blanket, born out of wedlock.

blanket British  

/ ˈblæŋkɪt /

noun

1. a large piece of thick cloth for use as a bed covering, animal covering, etc, enabling a person or animal to retain natural body heat

2. a concealing cover or layer, as of smoke, leaves, or snow

3. a rubber or plastic sheet wrapped round a cylinder, used in offset printing to transfer the image from the plate, stone, or forme to the paper

4. physics a layer of a fertile substance placed round the core of a nuclear reactor as a reflector or absorber and often to breed new fissionable fuel

5. (modifier) applying to or covering a wide group or variety of people, conditions, situations, etc

   blanket insurance against loss, injury, and theft

6. informal illegitimate

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verb

1. to cover with or as if with a blanket; overlie

2. to cover a very wide area, as in a publicity campaign; give blanket coverage

3. (usually foll by out) to obscure or suppress

   the storm blanketed out the TV picture

4. nautical to prevent wind from reaching the sails of (another sailing vessel) by passing to windward of it

blanket More Idioms  

1. see security blanket; wet blanket.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• blanketless
  adjective
• blanketlike
  adjective
• unblanketed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• blankets
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of blanket

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French, equivalent to blanc white ( see blank) + -et -et

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Explanation

A blanket is a large piece of material that keeps you warm when you're in bed or taking a nap on the couch. Many small children have a favorite blanket that provides not just warmth, but comfort. There is the knitted blanket on your bed, and then there's the blanket of snow that covers your yard in January. Any heavy layer can be described this way: "After a windy day, there was suddenly a blanket of leaves outside." You can use it as a verb, too: "The fog descended and began to blanket the whole town." The Old French root is blanchet, "light wool or flannel cloth," from blanc, "white" or "white cloth."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

blanket blankets

The forest is home to one of the largest continuous areas of blanket bog in the Lake District and acts as a huge carbon store.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

While Angelenos are using water rebates to replace turf with native grasses, expansive non-native lawns blanket the Lucas.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026

That’s fire, the kind that makes you want to cozy up under a blanket with your favorite mug of tea.

From Salon ● Oct. 27, 2026

In Lyon, France's third-biggest city, regional authorities have imposed a blanket ban on demonstrations.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Avery helps herself to two pigs in a blanket and plops onto the edge of my bed, and I sit at my desk chair.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

She has torches and blankets already and never lets food in the house completely run out.

From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026

The Daily Telegraph reports on Britons being asked to make "Be ready" kits for emergencies, "including three days' worth of non-perishable food and bottled water, an FM radio and blankets".

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Five years ago, they began filming themselves pulling thick, fluffy blankets of lint from screens the size of baking sheets, sometimes finding tiny treasures like coins or plastic toys.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

I think weighted blankets would be a great business venture still.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

I took off, bolting past the restroom doors and past the mural, and wove between music fans on picnic blankets and in lawn chairs waiting for the concert to start.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

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Related Words

• carpet
• cloak
• coat
• coating
• comforter
• layer
• mat
• quilt
• rug
• sheet

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