carpet
Americannoun
-
a heavy fabric, commonly of wool or nylon, for covering floors.
-
a covering of this material.
-
any relatively soft surface or covering like a carpet.
They walked on the carpet of grass.
-
any of a number of airborne electronic devices for jamming radar.
-
a system of such devices.
verb (used with object)
-
to cover or furnish with or as with a carpet.
-
Chiefly British. to reprimand.
idioms
noun
-
-
a heavy fabric for covering floors
-
( as modifier )
a carpet sale
-
-
a covering like a carpet
a carpet of leaves
-
informal
-
before authority to be reproved for misconduct or error
-
under consideration
-
verb
-
to cover with or as if with a carpet
-
informal to reprimand
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
carpetsimple
-
carpetssimple
-
have carpetedperfect
-
has carpetedperfect
-
am carpetingprogressive
-
are carpetingprogressive
-
is carpetingprogressive
-
have been carpetingperfect progressive
-
has been carpetingperfect progressive
Past
-
carpetedsimple
-
had carpetedperfect
-
was carpetingprogressive
-
were carpetingprogressive
-
had been carpetingperfect progressive
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.
Their relationship gradually entered public consciousness, between Instagram posts, joint appearances at red carpet events and tidbits about their romance in various interviews.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2026
Disneyland Resort is rolling out the red carpet for its closest neighbors with a limited-time $71 ticket deal exclusive to Anaheim residents.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026
Tabloids also spotted workers unrolling a large red carpet on the steps of the arena on Tuesday but it was removed quickly.
From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026
At a palatial ranch outside Medellín, the agents posed for photographs on a red carpet with the Andes mountains in the distance.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026
When he did speak, he kept his eyes downcast, as if he were talking to the carpet.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
