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

Dense fog will blanket parts of the UK on Sunday and into next week, causing dangerous driving conditions.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

The blanket of low-hanging gray clouds known as the marine layer has been essential in shielding heavily populated coastal Southern California from heat, but it has been in decline as the climate warms.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

Suddenly, a huge shelf of snow moves under her in a single piece, like a blanket sliding off a bed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

When it gets cold, Rebecca, 44, from Hertfordshire, sleeps with a blanket underneath her mattress, which she says stops draughts.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

Danny took the same seat on the couch as the night before and set the book on his lap like a comforting blanket.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

You can place curtains or blankets over your doors for extra insulation.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 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

Two older fairy women brought out a pillow and blankets to make him comfortable while he was unconscious.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

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Related Words

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

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