Showing results for carpet beetle. Search instead for carpet underlay.

carpet beetle

American

noun

any of several small beetles of the family Dermestidae, the larvae of which are household pests, feeding on rugs and other woolen fabrics, especially Anthrenus scrophulariae buffalo carpet beetle and Attagenus piceus black carpet beetle.

carpet beetle British

noun

any of various beetles of the genus Anthrenus, the larvae of which feed on carpets, furnishing fabrics, etc: family Dermestidae

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of carpet beetle

First recorded in 1885–90

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.

A collection of classic Hollywood cinema posters found in perfect condition after being used as a carpet underlay for decades are to be sold.

From BBC • Aug. 17, 2017

In January and February, Mohawk also received about 740,000 pounds of carpet underlay assembled in Mexico from U.S. parts.

From Time • May 31, 2017

Similarly, horses' hooves, carriage wheels and even roofs were clad in rubber, velvet and carpet underlay, all to muffle sound.

From The Guardian • Feb. 3, 2013

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023