carpet

[kahr-pit]

noun

1. a heavy fabric, commonly of wool or nylon, for covering floors.

2. a covering of this material.

3. any relatively soft surface or covering like a carpet.

   They walked on the carpet of grass.

4. any of a number of airborne electronic devices for jamming radar.

5. a system of such devices.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover or furnish with or as with a carpet.

2. Chiefly British.,  to reprimand.

carpet

/ ˈkɑːpɪt /

noun

1. 1. a heavy fabric for covering floors

   2. ( as modifier )

      a carpet sale

2. a covering like a carpet

   a carpet of leaves

3. informal

   1. before authority to be reproved for misconduct or error

   2. under consideration

verb

1. to cover with or as if with a carpet

2. informal,  to reprimand

Other Word Forms

• carpetless adjective
• carpetlike adjective
• recarpet verb (used with object)
• uncarpeted adjective
• well-carpeted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of carpet¹

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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of carpet¹

C14: from Old French carpite, from Old Italian carpita, from Late Latin carpeta, literally: (wool) that has been carded, from Latin carpere to pluck, card

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the carpet,

   1. before an authority or superior for an accounting of one's actions or a reprimand.

      He was called on the carpet again for his carelessness.

   2. Chiefly British. under consideration or discussion.

see call on the carpet; red carpet. Also see under rug.

Example Sentences

Next door, in the exhibition centre, there are swathes of empty blue carpet.

From BBC

"Starvation was the worst thing… you eat the crumbs on the carpet," he says.

From BBC

His children now do the same but the floor has been carpeted, so is less perilous.

From BBC

Hollywood is not rolling out the red carpet for Tilly Norwood – an "AI actor" that has been causing a stir after its Dutch creators said the synthetic performer is in talks with talent agencies.

From BBC

When Kassie and her three children got the keys to their new home, they were upset to discover rooms that had no carpets or flooring.

From BBC

Related Words

• carpeting 
• rug 
• tapestry