carpet

American  

[kahr-pit] / ˈkɑr pɪt /

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.

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verb (used with object)

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

2. Chiefly British. to reprimand.

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.

carpet British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to cover with or as if with a carpet

2. informal to reprimand

carpet More Idioms  

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

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Other Word Forms

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

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

As the royals' plane landed, the red carpet was rolled out.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

On the surface, Grede makes little show of her impressive wealth—save for the odd Instagram post documenting her family’s latest vacation or a red carpet appearance alongside one of her A-list collaborators.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

High-profile guests walked the red carpet and posed for photos Saturday evening, including White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and her husband, as well as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

The carefully crafted red carpet reception for the papal visit was in sharp contrast to criticism of detention conditions.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

Still glued to Gran’s heels, Viper snoozed in a curled ball on the plush carpet.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

Related Words

• carpeting
• rug
• tapestry